28 September 2025
Cancer charities join forces to support 1 in 250 Kiwis affected by genetic breast and ovarian cancer risk; releases moving short films featuring impacted families.
Two hereditary cancer charities are joining forces to support New Zealand patients and whānau impacted by genetic risk for breast and ovarian cancer, as well as the health professionals who care for them.
The merger of The New Zealand Familial Breast and Ovarian Cancer Trust and peer support group The Gift of Knowledge is announced in Hereditary Cancer Awareness Week (marked in the UK and US 29 September - 5 October).
Each year, an estimated 170 New Zealanders are found to carry an inherited faulty gene that significantly increases their risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer, with BRCA1 and BRCA2 among the most well-known. Once identified, navigating the health system can be complex and involves many challenging decisions.
Going forward as a merged entity, the key focus areas of The New Zealand Familial Breast and Ovarian Cancer Trust (NZFBOC) include:
- Awareness: the launch of New Zealand-based patient and whānau videos telling real, moving stories of two families affected by BRCA, their loss, and the life-saving decisions they face including preventive surgeries. View the first two videos here: www.nzfboc.org/video-hub.
- Peer Support: offering much-needed peer support services through face-to-face meet ups and a private Facebook group with 500+ members.
- Education: Providing educational resources for consumers and health workers
- Support for professionals: facilitating a Special Interest Group for health professionals and researchers, and hosting conferences to foster networking and knowledge-sharing
NZFBOC Trust Chair Dr Simone Petrich says “NZFBOC has a core purpose of improving outcomes for whānau by working closely with clinicians, researchers, families and communities across three key areas: education, awareness and equity. This merger enables us to expand peer support, support professionals in the field and grow cooperation and knowledge about familial breast and ovarian cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand”.
Gift of Knowledge founder and newly appointed Cancer Society CEO Nicola Coom says “I established the Gift of Knowledge in 2010 soon after finding out I have the BRCA1 gene mutation, and losing my mother and other family to ovarian cancer. At the time there was no information or support available in New Zealand. I’m delighted that this much-needed peer support will now be under the umbrella of NZFBOC, and that this important work will continue.”
NZFBOC Trustee Jody Bews-Hair, who features in the film series with daughters Zoe (19) and Emma (18) says, “Our family has been ravaged by genetic cancer, causing the premature deaths of my grandmother, father and sister, and affecting many others. Knowing about BRCA has been life-saving for me, and now these decisions - to get tested and deal with the outcome - are in front of my daughters.”
Jody’s niece Apryl also features in the films - she tested positive for the BRCA2 gene mutation at the age of 18, the same year her mother died from breast cancer. At only 22, Apryl underwent a preventive double mastectomy and reconstruction.
