Breast Cancer Ad In New Zealand Banned For Nipple Exposure (VIDEO)

Source: Youtube/Scottishgovernment

A hard-hitting breast cancer awareness campaign in New Zealand has been banned featuring comedienne-actress Elaine Smith. This was the first time in UK that a breast cancer ad showed images of a woman's breasts and the effects of cancer.

The Smith ad campaign was shown in Scotland after 9 p.m. and resulted to 50 percent awareness among women to go to their doctor's clinics to consult about breast cancer.

The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF) aimed to show images of breasts in the Scottish ad to stress the importance of the campaign for Kiwi audiences.

However, New Zealand's Commercial Approval Bureau (CAB) advised health ad campaigners that nipples should not be exposed in television adverts in New Zealand.

NZBF strategically resorted to having balloons, potted plants and cupcakes to cover the "sensitive" areas in its Naked Truth breast ad campaign. NZBF Chief Executive Van Henderson believes the images of the Scottish breast cancer ad would have definitely helped women in understanding more about the symptoms of breast cancer.

Henderson noted women should be aware that half of the cases of breast cancer in New Zealand are usually detected through a noticeable symptom. However, only 5 percent of women know that dimpling of the skin is a possible symptom. Only 2 percent of them notice that an inverted nipple may be associated with breast cancer.

She said the CAB's concern about showing nipples may be valid. But for those spreading breast cancer awareness, they believe that women should know the signs and symptoms of the disease through exact images.

The breast cancer ad was first shown in Scotland with Elaine Smith holding a series of big flashcards with pictures of breasts affected with the disease. The campaign emphasized that lumps are not the only signs of breast cancer. Women are also encouraged to check for changes in size or shape of their breasts and check for any unusual pain. Changes to nipples, reddening and dimpling may also be symptoms of the disease.