Breakthrough - September 2026

Message from Todd

Todd Harper

Welcome to our spring edition of Breakthrough.

This year is Cancer Council Victoria’s 90th anniversary. In the years I’ve been with Cancer Council, I’ve had the privilege to work alongside the most incredible people who have been relentless in their efforts to create change. Years later, the impact of their work is clear – cancer survival is climbing, people have more and better treatment options, and more cancers are being prevented.

From backing bold ideas to driving system-wide change, none of this work is possible without your compassion and generosity, and I’m so proud and grateful for your support.

Your generosity in action

With you by our side, we’re here for all people facing cancer at all stages of their cancer journey. In 2025 your support made a huge impact.

Over the last five years more than
61,100
Victorians received compassionate information and support when they needed it most via our 13 11 20 support service.

More than
23,000
lives have been saved since the 1960s through relenteless cancer control efforts in cancer screening, early detection and treatment.

71
cutting-edge cancer research projects are accelerating discoveries towards improving cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.

Prof. Donald Metcalf

Changing cancer in Victoria for 90 years

In 1936, Cancer Council Victoria (originally the Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria) was formed to save more lives from cancer by pouring resources into research, education and patient care.

Every breakthrough, every new program, every change in the system has been made possible because of people like you!

Dr Omer Gilan

Finding leaukaemia's 'off switch'

From the ground-breaking early discoveries of Professor Metcalf to exciting new approaches, advances in the treatment of blood cancers, like leukaemia, have steadily led to increased survival and better outcomes.

Now, Dr Omer Gilan is adding new insights and potential new treatment options for people diagnosed with leukaemia.

Karen - Gift in WIlls supporter

Turning family loss into hope for the future

Karen’s family has been impacted more than most from cancer. With the BRCA 1 gene carried through her family from her mother’s side, the women have been especially affected.

For Karen, this has led to a lifelong passion for supporting women and backing cancer research, which she sees as an absolute urgency.

It's good to know, lung screening campaign

It's good to know

A year after Australia’s National Lung Cancer Screening Program launched, more than 100,000 Australians at higher risk of lung cancer have accessed free screening.

For Rob, seeing the ‘It’s good to know’ ad prompted a conversation with his GP to check whether he was eligible.

Kicking goals against cancer

For 11-year-old Rayhaan, a Sunday morning soccer game had a lot more riding on it than the result or whether he played well.

Hosting a ‘Kick Goals Against Cancer’ fundraiser at his soccer club, Rayhaan spent the morning encouraging people to donate.

Thank you for giving it your all

For 40 years, Daffodil Day has been a day for all of us to come together to give hope to those who are or have been on a cancer journey.
When Daffodil Day first began in 1986, the 5-year cancer survival rate was approximately 46 per cent. Today, it stands at 72 per cent. That’s the difference decades of support from people like you can make.

To everyone who donated, dressed in yellow, held a fundraiser, took a cold plunge for the Daffodil Day Dip, volunteered or bought a bunch of daffodils, thank you for making the 40th anniversary of Daffodil Day truly unforgettable.