Day in the life of a senior analyst at Breast Cancer Foundation NZ

Data is a critical piece of the puzzle for reducing deaths from breast cancer. Since 2000, public and private breast clinics and hospitals have recorded anonymous information about breast cancer diagnoses, treatment and outcomes in Te Rēhita Mate Ūtaetae – Breast Cancer Foundation NZ National Register. To date over 53,000 people diagnosed with breast cancer are included in Te Rēhita (the Register). Te Rēhita is a rich source of information. It is used in research, to help plan breast cancer services, and to identify where further change is needed.

The Register team includes data managers, data administrators, and analysts across the country who oversee data entry, audits, and reporting.

We sat down with Cassie Zhang – a senior analyst for the Register team – to see what a normal day in the office entails.

8:30 AM – starting the day

Coffee first, then data. I start my morning by refreshing the Register database, Power BI dashboards, and other reports, keeping an eye out for any overnight surprises. If something looks off, it’s detective mode—because when it comes to data, even small inconsistencies can turn into big headaches. I also review any urgent data requests or queries that may have come through from researchers or clinical teams.

10:00 AM – diving into the data
One of the key responsibilities of the team is ensuring the data is accurate, complete and behaving itself. Today, I’m diving into some regular audits of the register. I cross-check patient data entries from multiple sources, making sure everything is accurate and consistent. I run scripts (automated, shoutout to our coding wizard Louie) for analysis and audits. It’s important to spot discrepancies early on.

12:30 PM – lunch (and some fresh air)
Time for a quick lunch and a bit of a mental reset. We have a beautiful outdoor deck at our offices in Auckland. I chat with Hannah and Pui-Yi from the Comms team. It’s nice to hear what other parts of the Foundation are up to.

1:00 PM – meetings, meetings, meetings

No day is complete without project meetings. We usually start the week with a Register team meeting to go over priorities and celebrate the “Wins of the Week.” Today, I check in with the research team to discuss data needs for their advanced breast cancer study on breast cancer outcomes. I review their documentation, extract the relevant data from the Register, and package it securely ensuring strict adherence to privacy and security protocols

3:00 PM – supporting clinical and research projects
In the afternoon, I focus on supporting ongoing clinical audits. I work closely with data managers and administrators to ensure that data uploads are done correctly for the BreastSurgANZ Quality Audit, which we send out twice a year. As part of the team, we ensure that the latest diagnosis data from New Zealand breast surgeons is uploaded accurately and on time.

Then, I shift gears to support a report commissioned by BreastScreen Aotearoa (BSA). This report uses 2021-2022 data from the Register and compares breast cancers found on mammogram and those found when a person notices a change to their breast in patients aged 45-69. Data in the BSA 2020 report was used to help support the age-extension of free mammograms to women aged 70-74. It’s so exciting to see data being used to make a such a meaningful difference.

Another key project I’m working on is the Foundation’s impact project with our Communications & Content Manager, Hannah. This is all about developing indicators to measure the impact of breast cancer interventions over time. It’s exciting because it helps translate raw data into meaningful insights that shape future decisions.

4:30 PM – wrapping up and planning for tomorrow

Before logging off, I check for any last-minute data issues, update my to-do list, and make a mental note that tomorrow will probably bring new data mysteries to solve. No day is the same. Some days, it feels like juggling flaming torches, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.