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Canberra Today 24°/28° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Cancer partners get a voice

Tim Mathieson, Prime Minister Julia Gillard, CEO of BCNA Lyn Swinburne and Sherri Mathieson.

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard’s first man Tim Mathieson has launched the Breast Cancer Network Australia’s new online support group for the partners of women diagnosed with breast cancer.

The PM made a surprise and brief appearance at the Lodge event, standing behind Mr Mathieson as he welcomed the crowd, many breast cancer sufferers, survivors and medical personnel.

“Thanks to the Prime Minister, who just turned up to keep an eye on me,” he said.

“Can’t get away with much these days, can I?”

Mr Mathieson, one of the Government’s men’s health ambassadors, said in his speech that every day 38 Australian women hear those chilling words: “You have breast cancer”.

“Life will never be the same again for them and their partners,” he said.

“The biggest part of the journey is helping breast cancer patients face and overcome their illness. It is always priority number one.

“But it’s not the whole story. We know that partners and family suffer, too. Of course, not all women have partners and not all partners are male and not all males are husbands. We have to be aware of every different situation.

“As the men’s health ambassador, I am particularly concerned that blokes don’t always handle it well when their partners get sick.

“Research has shown that partners often suffer equal levels of emotional stress compared with women diagnosed with breast cancer.

“They will often mask their feelings by appearing positive, appearing as though they are coping themselves so as not to burden their partner. But the truth is often partners need help, too.”

The online group called Partner Support will connect others facing similar challenges.
Partner Support will not only provide peer support, but will assist with the development of future resources designed specifically for partners.

Mr Mathieson’s daughter Sherri and Scott Hopkins, a partner of a breast-cancer survivor, made emotional speeches about their personal experiences with the disease.

“There are men that feel they have to be the rock, they have to fix things when they are broken and this is just one thing men can’t fix,” BCNA founder and CEO Lyn Swinburne said at the launch.

“Our online social network is one of those ways we think that, at least, men will be able to speak to one another.

“I am really pleased to announce the establishment of BCNA Partner Support, which is a group for male partners on our online social network.”

More information at www.bcna.org.au/network

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