This weekend, we have the power to shape a better future, not just for ourselves, but for the thousands of young women in Australia who face the devastating reality of a breast cancer diagnosis each year. As the CEO of So Brave, Australia’s only young women’s breast cancer charity, I see firsthand how policy decisions made today ripple into the lives of women tomorrow. It’s time to use our votes wisely, with compassion, courage, and a clear-eyed view of what must change.
Here are the top five things our community must consider when casting their ballots:
1. Ending Genetic Discrimination in Insurance
Right now in Australia, if you undertake genetic testing and discover a predisposition to breast cancer (or any hereditary cancer), that information can be used against you by life insurers. This is not only unjust, but it also actively discourages young women from accessing potentially life-saving genetic information. It’s time for our government to legislate a full ban on genetic discrimination in insurance, just as other countries have done. Every woman deserves to know her risk without fear of financial penalty.
2. Bringing a Blood Test for Early Breast Cancer Detection and Monitoring to Clinic
Imagine a world where a simple blood test could catch breast cancer early, before it becomes life-threatening. That world is not far off, but we need investment and commitment to bring these tests out of the research labs and into clinics, especially for young women whose cancers are often more aggressive and harder to detect through traditional means. Early diagnosis saves lives. Just as importantly, these same technologies could be used to monitor women already diagnosed with early breast cancer, detecting any signs of recurrence or progression quickly and non-invasively. Early detection and ongoing monitoring could change the entire trajectory of a young woman’s cancer journey. We need leaders who will champion this shift.
3. Fast-Tracking Access to Approved Treatments
Young women with breast cancer cannot afford to wait years for vital new treatments to navigate the complex process of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) listing. If a therapy has been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) as safe and effective, patients (particularly those facing metastatic disease) must be able to access it swiftly. We urge you to vote for candidates who will push for reform to speed up access to breakthrough medicines.
4. Prioritising Mental Health and Support Services
A diagnosis of breast cancer at a young age disrupts every aspect of life — from fertility, to careers, to relationships, to mental health. Comprehensive support services, including specialised mental health care, are not a luxury; they are a necessity. Policies that strengthen these services, make them affordable, and ensure they are tailored for young women must be a priority.
5. Investing in Education and Early Intervention
Prevention starts long before diagnosis. Educating young women to understand their bodies, their breast health, and their risks is one of the most powerful tools we have to save lives. Our next government must be willing to invest in public health campaigns, school-based education, and awareness initiatives that build a generation of breast-aware young women who can advocate for their own health outcomes.
As you head to the polls, I ask you to remember the faces and futures of young women across our country. Let’s choose candidates who will stand up for their health, their futures, and their right to live full, meaningful lives after breast cancer. Your vote matters. Let’s make it count.
With gratitude and hope,
Rachelle Panitz
CEO, So Brave