BCNA Online Presenter: Beverley Bird – BCNA Community Liaison

BCNA is the peak national organisation made up of and representing those affected by breast cancer Informing Empowering Representing Linking together Over 60,000 members across Australia

Information & resources Online network Member Group web pages Local Services Directory

One-stop-shop for information “I find the BCNA website fresh and easy to navigate. The wealth of information for women & men experiencing breast cancer is fantastic” Great search function BCNA events and news Factsheets Connecting members

Members and users create content

Social networking and the internet have transformed the way we connect 80% of Australians use the internet 94% have broadband access 79% of those aged use the internet Three in four say they have looked at profiles on social networks (37% on a daily basis) More than 9.5 million Facebook users in Australia 77% of cancer patients report that they have searched for additional information on the internet.

Internet users not only want support, they want to help others 2 out of 3 people with cancer use the internet as a supportive care resource The internet continues to play an important role after treatment has ended Psychosocial distress is reported by one third of people undergoing treatment and more than half of family caregivers 42% of online users are looking for support 37% want to help others

SOURCE : Forrester People use social media in different ways women 17%13% 34%20% 6% 45%34% 53%43% 30%42% % 22% 79% 77% 6% make social content: write blogs, upload video, pics, text respond to content from others: write reviews, comment on blogs, participate in forums, edit wiki articles organise content for themselves or others using RSS feeds, tags and comment sites like Digg connect in social networks like MySpace or Facebook consume social content like blogs, user-generated video, podcasts, forums or reviews neither create nor consume social content of any kind

BCNA Online Network members connect how and when they want Set up profiles Search for and find others Keep a blog, share stories Online groups Control privacy settings “After reading a few of the blogs, I am surprised to see just how many people there are like me out there. We all assume there is no-one else like us and our situations are all unique to ourselves, which they are in a way, but the similarities far outweigh the differences.”

our network has relatively more young women …

… and those from rural areas

stress levels change from diagnosis to after treatment

An active network Industry standard ( rule*) BCNA’s online network 1% of users show most activity 8% of users made blog posts 90% of users watching80% of users watching 12% of users made comments9% of users show some activity *(cc) Jake McKee & com Community participants

‘Normalising’ an abnormal experience …

Creating a sense of positivity… “Well I'll talk to all you lovely ladies post surgery. Thankyou so much, I have a much more positive attitude this afternoon after reading everyone’s inspiring stories … I think it will help me enormously to go into my surgery with this newly found sense of hope and positivity.”

Group contact details are always up-to-date Online promotion to attract new members – easy search by location, interest or focus Communicate with existing members, share successes, new information and upload photos, newsletters, meeting minutes etc. Groups can update themselves, or ask a friend or supporter to do it for them User guide and telephone support available Member Group web pages

Content is suggested and added by our members Local Services Directory

Keyword or category o Emotional wellbeing o Physical wellbeing o Practical support o Products o Health services Location o Distance from a postcode Local Services Directory Find breast cancer-related support and services by:

an understanding hairdresser a wig or prosthesis supplier counselling services for families as well as those with breast cancer a specialist lymphoedema massage therapist breast care nurses and other health professionals Types of services included: