The first breast cancer patients in Otago and Southland have been added to a national database, in the hopes of revolutionising the understanding of breast cancer care in these regions and throughout New Zealand.

Southern District Health Board has joined the Breast Cancer Foundation National Register, a database that collects information about more than 38,000 past and present patients across the country. 

The register helps to ensure all breast cancer patients, regardless of ethnicity or geographical location, receive the same high standard of care and advances in treatment.

Around 235 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in the Southern DHB area every year, and around 45 will die from it.

Dr Paul Samson, consultant general and breast surgeon at Southland Hospital, said: “Patients in Otago and Southland will benefit from being part of this register because it will allow us to see regional-specific information about breast cancer diagnoses, treatment and outcomes. Before joining the register, we had this data but it was inconsistently collected.

“Having this up-to-date and comprehensive data means we’ll be able to ensure ongoing quality improvements for our patients – regardless of their ethnicity and where they live. 

“It will help us to understand patients’ treatment choices, as well as to make more accurate predictions of treatment outcomes.”

Sue Kleinsman, manager of the National Register, explains “after spending the last year expanding the register, we now have all DHBs on board which means we’ll be able to see the full picture of breast cancer patients across the whole country”. 

“Since the register was launched in 2000, more than 30 scientific studies on breast cancer have been published using its data. 

“It’s helping us to continually expand our knowledge and push new frontiers in research.”

Breast Cancer Foundation NZ has provided more than $2.5 million to the development and management of the National Register. 

The database collects information such as demographics, diagnosis, follow-up and treatment. Around 3,300 new patients are added to the register each year.

To directly support the work of the National Register, please make a donation at: https://breastcancerregister.org.nz/for-patients#donate