SHEIN partners with the Australian preventative health charity Pink Hope to launch Generation Pink, a campaign that empowers Australian women to explore and own their hereditary health narrative.
Our mission is to generate positive change and increase awareness for women who may be at risk for breast and ovarian cancer.
Our initiative, "Generation Pink", encourages Australian women to break the family cancer cycle by conducting breast checks, advocating for their own health, and initiating life-saving conversations with their loved ones—asking questions such as "What type of cancer runs in our family?" and "What can we do about it?"
According to World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF), Australia had the seventh highest breast cancer incidence among women in 2020.
Up to 10% of cancers are hereditary, yet nearly half of Australians have never had this conversation—— so they are missing out on the opportunity to detect and treat it early.
Only 29% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer at a late stage will survive for more than five years, however, survival rates increase to 90% if the cancer is detected at an early stage and localised.
Once armed with this vital knowledge, women can make informed decisions about their and their loved ones’ health futures with regard to preventative surgery, having children, and discussing screening and genetic testing.
Pink Hope is a preventative health charity that provides information and tools to assess, manage and reduce risk of breast and ovarian cancer, while also providing personalised support for at-risk women. Founded in 2009, for more information in relation to Pink Hope please click HERE.
About Genetic Testing Program:
Generation Pink launched a Genetic Testing Program, offering more Australian families the hope of identifying and managing genetic mutations which can increase their risk of cancer. For the many who don't fit within the current guidelines for Medicare funded genetic testing, who cannot afford to self-fund, or who face lengthy delays in the public system, the new program will ensure more families are offered the chance to better manage and reduce their risk of cancer.
This partnership will enable to fund the genetic testing of 50 Australian families with private service, Eugene Labs, and will include a panel test of 62 genes, including BRCA1 and BRCA 2. Using Telehealth, the program will be available to families nationally to apply for. The criteria will not only be based upon family history and those who do not fit within the Medicare benchmarks but will also factor in the significant delays many eligible families face in the current system, ensuring that the families who would benefit the most are prioritised.
The program "Genetic Testing Grant" will involve both pre and post-test genetic counselling, in addition to the test itself, ensuring families are well equipped to manage their health and risk based on the findings of the test.
Officially launches on 1st March offering testing to 50 eligible families. Click on the link for details and to sign up to participate: https://www.pinkhope.org.au/genetic-testing-grant.
Let's talk to Dr Chantel Thornton (specialist breast cancer surgeon) about Early Detection.
Tune in to hear more about the tests used for early detection, options for younger women and why a breast surgeon is often the first step of the treatment team.
This time, we had an exciting opportunity to chat with a genetic counsellor, Mona Saleh, to talk about Genetic Testing.
In this video, we provide more information and facts about genetic testing, the different types, if you should undergo it, and much more. Check it now!
In this Live conversation with Nicole, we talked about How to Self-advocate when it comes to our health.
Nicole Cooper is an expert patient advocate, speaker and management consultant who lives her experience of the health system as a stage four cancer patient publicly, and with purpose. Nicole has been a full time bowel cancer patient for over five years, facing 11 surgeries, multiple lines of chemotherapy and immunotherapy, and a recent program of radiotherapy.
Since diagnosis, Nicole has completed an enormous body of high-impact patient advocacy and charitable work, spanning volunteering, board memberships, fundraising, media and operational roles. She has passionately and energetically lobbied for patient access and health system improvement at the national, state and community level, always with an emphasis on tracking and delivering better patient outcomes. Nicole is now a director of a binational charity, host of a podcast, and will continue to be a stage four cancer patient.
Story from Nikki
Nikki’s father was diagnosed with cancer when she was in high school. Their dinner table conversations were a little different to most of her school friends’. Her family had to tackle the harder topics: cancer, bravery, courage, and what the future could hold. Today, those discussions continue to empower Nikki, now brand ambassador for Pink Hope.
This year, we launched Generation Pink and invite you to join us in our fight to encourage every family to have hard conversations; to talk about health, cancer and how it can affect us all.
Story from Bridget
“My name is Bridget Mitchell and I’m a cancer survivor. I know first-hand why it’s so important to talk to your family about cancer. I lost my mother to breast cancer when I was eleven years old. I don’t want anyone else to have to experience the loss I did. I was diagnosed with the BRCA gene when I was 27 years old. This put me into the higher risk category of breast and ovarian cancer. During Covid I discovered lumps in my breast and I was diagnosed with Stage One breast cancer.”
“It can be hard to have a conversation with your family about cancers, I know it was for mine.”
“My name is Bridget Mitchell and I’m a cancer survivor. I know first-hand why it’s so important to talk to your family about cancer. I lost my mother to breast cancer when I was eleven years old. I don’t want anyone else to have to experience the loss I did. I was diagnosed with the BRCA gene when I was 27 years old. This put me into the higher risk category of breast and ovarian cancer. During Covid I discovered lumps in my breast and I was diagnosed with Stage One breast cancer.”
“It can be hard to have a conversation with your family about cancers, I know it was for mine.”
In Generation Pink, we have hard discussions and offer support here, so you’re not alone.
Kylie Cousins Photography.