Breast Care Luncheon
October 21, 2024
We are deeply grateful to everyone who joined and supported our 2024 Breast Care Luncheon. It was a truly special day, with over 220 patients and their guests in attendance.
This annual event is dedicated to supporting our breast care patients by providing education, resources, and a warm, nurturing community. We were especially excited to welcome our guest speaker this year, Dr. Tonia Mezzini, who brought both compassion and humour as she spoke with expertise about the real challenges faced by breast cancer patients. Specifically she provided detailed information to assist patients with the side effect and challenges, which was well received by our guests.
Dr. Mezzini is a Sexual Health Physician with a focus on chronic pelvic pain, vulval disorders, hormonal concerns across the reproductive life span, cancer survivorship, and mental health issues in women. She holds a Master’s in HIV, STI, and Sexual Health from Sydney University and a Master’s in Psychiatry from Melbourne University. Dr. Mezzini consults at East Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Beulah Park.
We were also thrilled to welcome our partners from the West Beach Surf Life Saving Club, who presented our breast care team with funds raised during their 2024 Pink and Blue Swim.
Our guests shared some wonderful feedback: “What a fantastic celebration of friendship, survivorship, and support at yesterday's Adelaide Oval Luncheon. So well-organised, with lovely Breast Care nurses in attendance and great stalls.” “Thank you so much. I just loved it. Meeting everyone and sharing our experiences was the highlight for me.”
This annual event is organised by our Breast Cancer Nurses in partnership with the St Andrew’s Hospital Foundation. This year, we were honoured to have the support of our sponsors, GenesisCare and Jones Radiology.
During the formalities, our MC, Jacquie Wiley, Director Nursing and Clinical Services, officially launched the St Andrew’s Wellbeing Centre. The Wellbeing Centre is designed to offer a calm and welcoming space, providing holistic programs that complement the clinical care delivered at the hospital. We're excited to announce that our Breast Care Luncheon attendees will be among the first to experience and benefit from this wonderful new facility.
We were fortunate to have the very talented Kyrie Kohlhagen, Sound Therapist from Kindred Self, create an immersive sound bath experience for our guests as a sampling of the programing that will be offered at the Wellbeing Centre.
For over 25 years, the Breast Care Luncheon has provided an opportunity for patients and their loved ones to come together, reflect, learn, laugh, and find inspiration in each other’s journeys.
Thank you to all our vendors who participated in this event: Adelaide Breast Care, Amoena, Breast Screen SA, Dragons Abreast, Romeo Enza - Surgical Fitter, EP Exercise Physiology, Flourish Therapy Adelaide, Lift Cancer Care, Look Good Feel Better, The Lymph Place, Lymph Movement Studio, Lymphoedema Association Australia, Lymphoedema Wellness, Pink Lotus, Remedial Lymphatics, and Zonta Club of Australia.