An advanced breast cancer diagnosis may feel scary, but we’re here to help.
There are resources here to help you process what is happening, answer some of your questions, and to support you in your choices going forward as you aim to live as well as possible.
Sweet Louise Guide to life with secondary breast cancer
The resources in this section aim to supplement the information in the Sweet Louise Guide to life with secondary breast cancer. This guide book aims to help you process the news about your diagnosis, and, when you're ready, help you plan your next steps. Throughout the booklet you will find quotes from our Sweet Louise Members who share their thoughts and feelings in the hopes their words will resonate with you at this difficult time.
To request a hard copy of the book, please email [email protected]
If you have any questions, suggestions or requests for the resources available here, please get in touch with us at [email protected] or on 0800 11 22 77.
Treatment options for advanced breast cancer
The main aim of treatment for advanced breast cancer is to improve symptoms and therefore quality of life. By slowing the growth of, or shrinking your tumors, treatment may allow you to live for longer and feel better.
You may have various single or combined treatments one after the other to keep your cancer under control. In between treatments, women often find they can get on with their day-to-day life.
Your cancer doctor (oncologist) and specialist breast cancer nurse will involve you in treatment decisions. They will support you and, if needed, they can refer you for more specialised help in coping with your day-to-day activities and emotions. (Find out more about questions to ask and discussing treatment options with your doctor).
We've put together this information to help you understand the treatment options currently available in New Zealand. It includes:
- Planning treatment with your medical support team
- Treatment options
- Anticancer drug therapy
- Radiotherapy
- Surgery
- Other medicines to help manage symptoms
- Palliative care
- Wellbeing options
- Research - clinical trials
Questions to ask your doctor
During visits to your doctor, oncologist, or other healthcare provider, you will often be given a lot of information all at once. We have some helpful tips for getting the information you need and some questions you might like to ask.
Treatments not funded in NZ
There are some medicines in use overseas that are licensed by Medsafe for use in New Zealand, but are not funded for use in the public health system. We've compiled a list of treatments not currently funded in NZ.
Talking to children & teens about cancer
Talking to children and teenagers about a diagnosis of advanced breast cancer can be challenging. We have some tips to help you through the conversation.
Staying active with cancer
Taking regular exercise and becoming more active can be a positive change to make in your life when you are living with advanced breast cancer.
Employment: entitlements and options
If you are still working when diagnosed with advanced breast cancer, you may be wondering whether or not to continue. You may decide to make some changes in your working life - to stop work altogether, change jobs, or chose flexible or part-time work. You may find yourself having to negotiate your sick leave and annual leave entitlements as well as working through what to tell your employer.
We've put together information that aims to help you understand your options and entitlements:
Food, nutrition and eating well
Webinar: Managing anxiety
Webinar: The emotional load of living with metastatic cancer
Clinical Psychologist Dr Dani Bullen, from Peter MacCallum Cancer Cenre, presents a webinar discussing ways of dealing with the emotional challenges of living with advanced (or metastatic) cancer.
Watch the webinar
Sleeping well
Exercise with advanced breast cancer
Life with ABC podcast series
Life with ABC (advanced breast cancer) is a podcast series in which Jane, an experienced documentary-maker and Sweet Louise member, chats with other Sweet Louise members to share their thoughts and experiences of living with advanced breast cancer.
Listen to the podcast series
Eating well with cancer
- IBBC: eating well after diagnosis
- Dana-Faber Cancer Institute: eating well during cancer
More useful links
- ABC Global Alliance information and resources
- Living Beyond Breast Cancer: resources for metastatic breast cancer
- Ibrance website: metastatic breast cancer diagnosis
- Managing your money after being diagnosed with a serious or terminal illness