Family Cancer Service | Cancer Council Victoria

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One in three Australians will develop cancer in their lifetime, so it's not uncommon for members of the same family to develop unrelated cancers.

For a small number of families, an inherited faulty gene means their risk is much higher. If you're concerned about your family's cancer history, call 13 11 20 or talk to your doctor who can refer you to a family cancer centre.

Familial bowel cancer

Learn about genetics and bowel cancer.

Familial breast cancer

Learn about genetics and breast cancer.

Familial ovarian cancer

Learn about genetics and ovarian cancer.

Familial melanoma

Learn about genetics and melanoma.

Family history of cancer

Learn about what constitutes a risky family history.

Family cancer centres

Find details of family cancer centres.

Genetic testing

Learn more about genetic testing and who should consider it.

Genetic counselling

Learn about genetic counselling at family cancer centres.

Useful links

Links to external websites about genetics and cancer.

Cancer information

Questions about cancer?

Call or email our experienced cancer nurses for information and support.

Contact a cancer nurse

Cancer information
- Cancer information
- What is cancer?
  - What is cancer?
    Cancer is a disease of the cells, which are the body’s basic building blocks.
- Types of cancer
  - Types of cancer
    Information about the diagnosis and treatment of different cancer types.
- Treatments
  - Treatments
    Learn about cancer treatments and find your local treatment centre.
  - Questions for your doctor
  - Treatment centres
  - Treatment types
  - Clinical trials
    - Search for a clinical trial
  - Making decisions about your care
- Genetics and risk
  - Genetics and risk
    Information about genetics, family history and cancer.
  - Familial bowel cancer
  - Familial breast cancer
  - Familial ovarian cancer
  - Familial melanoma
  - Family history of cancer
  - Family cancer centres
  - Genetic testing
  - Genetic counselling
  - Useful links
- Children, teens and young adults
  - Children, teens and young adults
    Information about cancer in children, teens and young adults.
  - Diagnosing children’s cancers
  - Reactions and emotions
  - Treating children’s cancers
  - Types of children’s cancers
  - During and after cancer
  - Cancer and school
  - Facts and figures
- Advanced cancer
  - Advanced cancer
    Learn more about advanced cancer.
  - What is advanced cancer?
  - The emotional impact
  - Talking with family and friends
  - Making treatment decisions
  - Treatment
  - Managing symptoms
  - Planning ahead
  - Information for carers
  - Advance Care Planning Webinars
- Aboriginal communities
  - Aboriginal communities
    Cancer information for aboriginal communities.
Managing daily life
- Managing daily life
- Common side effects
  - Common side effects
    Learn about common side effects and ways to manage them.
  - Changes in thinking and memory
  - Nerve pain and numbness
  - Fatigue and cancer
  - Fertility
  - Hair loss
  - Lymphoedema
  - Mouth health
  - Complementary therapies
  - Overcoming cancer pain
  - Taste and smell changes
- Emotions
  - Emotions
    Learn about common reactions to cancer diagnoses and how to adjust.
- Life after treatment
  - Life after treatment
    Information about the challenges you may face after treatment.
- Nutrition
  - Nutrition
    Learn about eating well during and after cancer treatment.
- Exercise
  - Exercise
    Learn about the importance of exercise including tips and examples.
- Sexuality and intimacy
  - Sexuality and intimacy
    Dealing with the ways cancer and treatment may affect your sexuality.
- Grief
  - Grief
    Understanding grief and ways to live with the loss of a loved one.
- Holidays and travel
  - Holidays and travel
    Learn about insurance and tips for managing special occasions.
  - Special occasions
  - Travel Insurance and Cancer
- Learning to relax
  - Learning to relax
    Tips for ways to cope with the emotional impact of cancer.
Get support
- Get support
- Cancer and COVID-19
  - Cancer and COVID-19
    Learn about cancer and COVID-19, and updates about our support services.
  - Latest news
  - COVID-19 and your health
  - Don't delay
  - Hospital visitor restrictions
  - Telehealth for patients and carers
  - Our support services and COVID-19
  - COVID-19 FAQs
  - Cancer treatment FAQs
  - Information in other languages
  - Smoking and COVID-19
  - COVID-19 for health professionals
  - Keep up to date
- Contact our cancer nurses
  - Contact our cancer nurses
    Speak to a cancer nurse or email a question.
- Facing end of life
  - Facing end of life
    Learn about the physical and emotional impacts.
- Caring for someone with cancer
  - Caring for someone with cancer
    Learn more about supporting someone affected by cancer.
  - What carers do
- Wig service
  - Wig service
    We offer a free, personalised wig loan service.
  - Wig service
  - Donate a wig
  - Donating your hair
- Connect and learn
  - Connect and learn
    Connect with others and participate in our free education programs.
  - Cancer Connect
  - Managing Cancer Workshops
  - Support groups
  - Online community
  - Cancer Wellness Program
  - Contact a Cancer Nurse
  - Newsletter sign-up
- Financial and legal
  - Financial and legal
    Information and support programs related to legal and financial matters.
  - Cancer and your finances
  - Financial Counselling Program
  - Pro Bono Services
- Work
  - Work
    How to manage a work life and cancer.
- Holiday break program
  - Holiday break program
    Free short breaks for those affected by cancer and their families.
- Cancer services guide
  - Cancer services guide
    A guide to support services available to Victorians affected by cancer.
- Aboriginal communities
  - Aboriginal communities
    Cancer information and support services for Victorian Aboriginal communities.
- LGBTIQ+ communities
  - LGBTIQ+ communities
    Cancer information and support services for LGBTIQ+ communities.
Prevention
- Prevention
- Get checked
- Limit alcohol
  - Limit alcohol
    Cut down on alcohol to reduce your risk of cancer.
  - Alcohol causes at least 7 types of cancer
  - How alcohol causes cancer
  - Safe level of alcohol
  - Defining a standard drink
  - Standard drink tool
  - Tips to reduce your drinking
  - Drinking alcohol when you have cancer
  - For health professionals
  - Our policy work on alcohol
- Be a healthy weight
  - Be a healthy weight
    Convincing evidence links obesity to various cancers.
- Eat a healthy diet
  - Eat a healthy diet
    We recommend a healthy body weight, regular exercise and a healthy diet.
- Be SunSmart
  - Be SunSmart
    It's preventable but nearly 2,000 Australians die of skin cancer each year.
- Quit smoking
  - Quit smoking
    Each year 15,000 Australians are diagnosed with smoking-related cancer.
- Be physically active
  - Be physically active
    Evidence links physical activity to reduced breast and colon cancer risk.
- Workplaces
  - Workplaces
    Tips to cut your cancer risk in the workplace.
- Aboriginal communities
  - Aboriginal communities
    We're working to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
- LGBTIQ+ communities
  - LGBTIQ+ communities
    Cancer information and support services for LGBTIQ+ communities.
Research
- Research
- Research news
  - Research news
    Get the latest cancer research news.
- Research grants
  - Research grants
    Scientific work funded in universities, hospitals and research institutes.
  - Apply for funding
  - Colebatch Clinical Research Fellowship
  - Summer Vacation Studentships
  - Research Fellowships
  - Sir Edward Dunlop Research Fellowship
  - Venture Grants
  - Grants-in-Aid
  - Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
  - Search research projects
  - Fund a research award
  - How much do we spend on external research?
- Search our research
  - Search our research
    Search the vast number of projects we've been involved in over the years.
- Meet our researchers
  - Meet our researchers
    Team of researchers who have expanded our understanding of cancer.
- Our Forgotten Cancers Program
  - Our Forgotten Cancers Program
    Improving survival for less common and low survival cancers.
- Research ethics and guidelines
  - Research ethics and guidelines
    Learn about our research ethics and research practice guidelines
- McCabe Centre for Law & Cancer
  - McCabe Centre for Law & Cancer
    Find out how we use the law to prevent cancer and to protect people affected by it.
- Victorian Cancer Registry
  - Victorian Cancer Registry
    We register details of all cancer diagnoses to keep statistics.
  - About us
  - Accessing and requesting data
  - VCR interactive data cube
  - Data access costs
  - Legal and governance framework
  - Data linkage services
  - Recruitment and research studies
    - E-Path
    - Abrevio project
  - Publications
  - Contact us
- Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer
  - Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer
    Learn more about the centre and its work.
  - Meet the team
  - Major research projects
  - Search our research
- Cancer Epidemiology Division
- VicHealth Centre for Tobacco Control
  - VicHealth Centre for Tobacco Control
    Learn more about the centre and its work.
  - Nigel Gray Fellowship work
  - VCTC publications pre 2004
  - VCTC publications post 2004
  - Tobacco control researchers
  - Nigel Gray Award
Get involved
- Get involved
- Donate
  - Donate
    Support our work including research, cancer support and prevention.
  - Donate online
  - Make a one-off donation
    - Make a one-off donation
  - Make a regular donation
  - Leave a gift in your Will
  - Honour your loved one
  - Give in celebration
- Leave a gift in your Will
  - Leave a gift in your Will
    A gift of hope for generations to come.
- Fundraise
  - Fundraise
    Find a fundraising event to suit you.
  - The March Charge
  - Shave or chop your hair
  - Get active
  - Relay For Life
    - Relay For Life volunteer application form
  - Australia's Biggest Morning Tea
  - Fundraise your way
  - Celebrate
  - Fundraising on Facebook
  - Daffodil Day
  - Dry July
  - Girls' Night In
  - Walking Stars
  - The Longest Day
- Volunteer with us
  - Volunteer with us
    Join the fight against cancer and volunteer with us.
  - Ways of volunteering
  - Regional fundraising groups
  - Corporate volunteering
  - How do I become a volunteer?
  - Volunteer opportunities
  - Volunteering FAQs
- Community engagement
  - Community engagement
    Share your story to help others, give back and be heard.
  - Register your interest
  - Your stories
- Give a major gift
  - Give a major gift
    Learn more about philanthropy at Cancer Council Victoria.
  - About us
  - Our work
  - Partner with us
- Become a corporate supporter
  - Become a corporate supporter
    There are many ways corporates can support our work.
- Fund cancer research
  - Fund cancer research
    Fund a specific type of cancer research and earn a research award.
- Honour your loved one
  - Honour your loved one
    Create a lasting space to remember your loved one or give in memory.
- Give in celebration
  - Give in celebration
    Make a lasting contribution when you celebrate your next special occasion.
- Donate a holiday
  - Donate a holiday
    Give a cancer patient some time away in your holiday home.
- Shop online
  - Shop online
    Cancer Council’s online store offers ultimate sun protection solutions.
Health professionals
- Health professionals
- Cancer and COVID-19
  - Cancer and COVID-19
    Learn about cancer and COVID-19, and support services for your patients.
  - Industry news and resources
  - Referrals to our cancer nurses
  - Don’t Delay
  - Our support services and COVID-19
  - Information in other languages
  - Cancer and COVID-19 FAQs
  - Cancer treatment FAQs
  - Essential services and supplies
  - Keep up to date
- News
  - News
    Read our latest news for health professionals.
- Cancer support referral
  - Cancer support referral
    Request a call back from a cancer nurse for one of your patients or carers.
- Order free publications
  - Order free publications
    Order a limited number of our free booklets and brochures.
- Education and training
  - Education and training
    Education programs for people who work in a healthcare setting.
  - Cancer education programs
    - Cancer Education Program - Members
    - Cancer Education Programs (CEP) 2021 schedule
  - Effective cancer communication
    - ECC members only
  - eLearning modules
  - Advanced Communication Skills Retreat 2021
  - Clinical consultation skills webinar
  - Advance care planning webinars
- Cervical screening providers
  - Cervical screening providers
    Information for Nurse Cervical Screening providers.
  - Cervical screening directory
  - Cervical screening certification
  - Preceptors
  - Cervical screening resources
  - Nurse Ambassador Program
  - Nurse scholarships
- Optimal Care Pathways
  - Optimal Care Pathways
    Review of the Pathways (formerly Patient Management Frameworks).
- Clinical Network
  - Clinical Network
    Network of specialist health care professionals.
  - Clinical Network overview
  - What we do
  - Resources
  - Latest news
  - Join the Clinical Network
  - Victorian Cancer Plan
- Community health
  - Community health
    Resources and support for Community Health Professionals.
  - Cancer Screening Resources Hub
  - Education and training
  - Hepatitis and liver cancer
  - Multicultural Communities Grants
- Clinical practice guides
  - Clinical practice guides
    Medical guides for specific cancers.
- Financial and legal referrals
  - Financial and legal referrals
    Referral information for legal and financial assistance programs.
  - Financial Counselling Program
  - Pro Bono Services
- Resources for dietitians
  - Resources for dietitians
    To support nutritional management of oncology patients.
- General practice
  - General practice
    Resources and support for general practice.
  - Clinical practice guidelines
  - Education and online learning
  - Optimal care pathways
  - Patient resources
  - Useful links and resources
About us
- About us
- Contact us
  - Contact us
    Addresses, phone numbers, parking and public transport information.
- What we do
  - What we do
    Our strategic plan, outlining our mission, values, goals and priorities.
- Latest news and stories
  - Latest news and stories
    News from Cancer Council Victoria and stories of those affected by cancer.
- Where the money goes
  - Where the money goes
    See what we spent our money on in 2019.
- Work with us
  - Work with us
    Interested in a career with Cancer Council Victoria? Find out more.
  - Job vacancies
  - Volunteer with us
- Media
  - Media
    Latest media releases and contacts for media liaison.
  - Search media releases
  - 2021 media releases
  - 2020 media releases
  - 2019 media releases
  - 2018 media releases
  - 2017 media releases
  - 2016 media releases
  - 2015 media releases
  - 2014 media releases
  - 2013 media releases
  - 2012 media releases
  - 2011 media releases
  - 2010 media releases
  - Media contacts
- Governance
  - Governance
    Find out about our governance and our board.
  - CEO - Todd Harper
  - Members
  - Board of Directors
  - Executive Sub-Committee
  - Finance, Risk and Audit Committee
  - Medical & Scientific Committee
  - Venture Grants Committee
  - Clinical Network
  - Human Research Ethics
- Publications and videos
  - Publications and videos
    Annual review, newsletters, booklets, information sheets and videos.
  - Newsletters
    - Breakthrough
      - Subscribe to Breakthrough
    - Cancer Information and Support News for Health Professionals
- Annual reviews
  - Annual reviews
    View our annual reviews which demonstrate our achievements each year.
  - Archived annual reviews
  - Financial reports
  - Parliamentary reports
- Our history
  - Our history
    Snapshots of people and events from our long history.
- Culturally diverse communities
  - Culturally diverse communities
    We work to reduce the impact of cancer in diverse communities.
- Melbourne retail store
  - Melbourne retail store
    Our Melbourne-based retail shop is now permanently closed. To purchase our products, visit www.cancercouncilshop.org.au.
More
- More

Genetics and risk