To support the provision of information to women from a non-English speaking background, the Centre has commissioned qualitative research on cultural attitudes to breast cancer, described later in this report. The results of this work will form the basis for culturally appropriate translation of the booklet into several community languages. If the consumer's guide and complementary resources are to be effective, they need to be distributed on a routine basis to all women diagnosed with breast cancer, and this needs to continue over time. The Centre has developed a kit to help ensure that the consumer's guide is routinely distributed. Early Breast Cancer , the booklet All About Early Breast Cancer and an audio cassette of the booklet, posters, a small display stand, and a reminder to reorder.
Women can select the type of information and level of detail that they feel most comfortable with.
The information will be available in community languages other than English. Growing availability of multimedia computers means that the CD-ROM program will be available to women in cancer care centres, libraries and in their own homes. A substantial proportion of women have advanced breast cancer at diagnosis, and a proportion of women diagnosed with early breast cancer will progress to advanced disease. The challenges for management of advanced disease include the improvement of quality of life through reduction of symptoms and psychosocial support as well as extending life through control of metastatic disease. The Centre has established an Advanced Breast Cancer Working Group, with representatives from a wide range of disciplines.