Genetics & risk

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.

Specific family cancers:

Breast cancer & genetics

Bowel cancer & genetics

Melanoma & genetics

Ovarian cancer & genetics

Webinar: Breast cancer in my family: what does it mean for me?

Webinar: Challenging Choices: issues for carriers of the BRCA1 &/or BRCA2 gene

Family history of cancer

What constitutes a risky history?

Family cancer centres

Contact details.

Genetic testing

Useful for a small number of families.

Genetic counselling

Available at family cancer centres.

Victorian Family Cancer Register

Confidential database of families at risk.

Web links - family cancer

Sites about genetics and cancer.

Get information

Questions about cancer?

Information and
support call

13 11 20 13 11 20

Information in your
own language call

13 14 50 13 14 50

Email a
cancer nurse

Get information
- Get information
- Cancer Types
- Treatments
  - Treatments
    Understand more about treatments that you may undertake. Find your local treatment centre in metropolitan and regional Victoria.
  - Questions for your doctor
  - Treatment centres
  - Treatments types
  - Clinical trials
  - Making decisions about your care
  - Travelling to treatment
    - Parking at cancer treatment centres
- Advanced cancer
  - Advanced cancer
    Find out more about advanced cancer including what it is, how it is treated, what might happen and what support is available.
  - The emotional impact
  - Talking with family and friends
  - Making treatment decisions
  - Treatment for advanced cancer
  - Managing symptoms
  - Planning ahead
  - Information for carers
  - Advance Care Planning Webinars
- Children, teens and young adults
  - Children, teens and young adults
    Understand more about when cancer is diagnosed in children, teen and young adults and how to manage the needs of the child, family, friends and community.
  - Diagnosing children’s cancers
  - Reactions and emotions to childhood cancer
  - Treating children’s cancers
  - Types of children’s cancers
  - Life during and after childhood cancer
  - Talking to kids about cancer
  - Cancer in the school community
  - Cancer Council & childhood cancers
- Genetics & risk
  - Genetics & risk
    Understand more about the role genetics has in cancer risk and how to find out more if you are concerned about a family history of cancer.
  - Family history of cancer
  - Family cancer centres
  - Genetic testing
  - Genetic counselling
  - Victorian Family Cancer Register
  - Familial bowel cancer
  - Familial breast cancer
  - Familial melanoma
  - Familial ovarian cancer
  - Web links - family cancer
Get support
- Get support
- Contact our cancer nurses
  - Contact our cancer nurses
    Information and support 13 11 20
    Support in your language 13 14 50
    askanurse@cancervic.org.au
- Family and friends
  - Family and friends
    Understand more about supporting someone affected by cancer including family, friends and work colleagues.
  - Caring for someone
  - How will I feel?
  - Caring for yourself
  - How relationships change
  - Caring for someone with advanced cancer
  - Support and information
  - Information webinar
  - Talking to kids about cancer
  - Cancer in the school community
  - Cancer in the workplace
- A holiday break
  - A holiday break
    Free short breaks for those affected by cancer and their families.
- Connect and learn
  - Connect and learn
    Connect with others as well as participate in our free education programs offered in metropolitan and regional Victoria.
  - Cancer Connect
  - Living with Cancer Education Program
  - Support groups
  - Online community
  - Healthy Living after Cancer
  - Wellness and life after Cancer
  - Contact a Cancer Nurse
- Wig service
  - Wig service
    Our wig service is free, private and personalised. We offer an extensive range of synthetic wigs along with headscarves, beanies and cotton caps.
- Legal and financial
  - Legal and financial
    Having cancer can raise financial and legal issues that can be challenging. Cancer Council provides a variety of support programs and information to assist you.
  - Legal and financial advice
  - Financial assistance
  - Finances
- Work
  - Work
    A cancer diagnosis can create challenges to your ability to work. Workplaces are often unsure of how to create a fair and supportive workplace, and employees are often unsure of their rights and responsibilities.
  - Cancer, work and you
  - Making decisions about working
  - Working during treatment and recovery
  - Coping with side effects
  - Working after treatment ends
  - Self-employment and cancer
  - Information for working carers
  - Workplace rights
  - Getting help and support
- Facing end of life
  - Facing end of life
    Understand more about what might happen physically, the emotional impact of knowing you are dying and how to prepare for death.
  - Coping with the news that you’re dying
  - Common questions about dying
  - Emotional and spiritual concerns
  - Physical concerns
  - Where to die
  - Practical concerns
  - Caring for someone nearing the end of life
  - Further support and information
- Cancer services guide
  - Cancer services guide
    A guide to support services available to Victorians affected by cancer, from diagnosis, through treatment and to life after cancer.
- Aboriginal communities
  - Aboriginal communities
    Cancer information and support services for Victorian Aboriginal communities.
Managing daily life
- Managing daily life
- Common side effects
  - Common side effects
    Cancer and its treatment can result in a range of side effects. Find out more about common side effects and ways to manage them.
  - Changes in thinking and memory
  - Fatigue
  - Fertility
  - Hair loss
  - Lymphoedema
  - Mouth health
  - Complementary therapies
  - Overcoming Cancer Pain
  - Taste and smell changes
- Emotions
  - Emotions
    Understand the common reactions people have when they are diagnosed with cancer and suggestions for adjusting to the diagnosis.
  - Physical effects
  - Your coping toolbox
  - The others in your life
  - Getting support
- Exercise
  - Exercise
    Learn about the importance of exercise and its benefits during and after cancer treatment. Includes tips and example exercise techniques.
  - Getting started
  - Aerobic exercise
  - Strength-training exercises
  - Flexibility exercises
  - Pelvic floor exercises
  - Nutrition and exercise webinars
- Grief
  - Grief
    Understand the grief experienced when losing someone close to you and find out ways to live with the loss.
  - The experience of grief
  - How long will it last?
  - How to help someone who is grieving
  - Seeking support
- Holidays and travel
  - Holidays and travel
    Spending time with family and friends is important. Find out more about insurance and tips for managing special occasions.
  - Special occasions and celebrations
  - Travel Insurance and Cancer
- Learning to relax
  - Learning to relax
    Tips for ways to cope with the emotional impact of cancer.
- Life after treatment
  - Life after treatment
    Information to assist you with the emotional, physical, practical, spiritual and social challenges you may face now that treatment has finished.
  - Living well after cancer
  - Wellness and life after cancer
  - Healthy living after cancer
  - Understanding your feelings
  - Fear of the cancer coming back
  - Follow-up care
  - Family and friends
  - Treatment side effects
  - Taking control of your health
  - Legal, financial & workplace concerns
- Nutrition
  - Nutrition
    Understand more about nutrition and eating well during and after cancer treatment.
  - Nutrition for people living with cancer
  - Treatment side effects and nutrition
  - Nutrition concerns
  - Nutrition and advanced cancer
  - Recipes & snacks
  - Practical help and information
  - Malnutrition
  - Nutrition and exercise webinars
- Sexuality and intimacy
  - Sexuality and intimacy
    Information and tips for people with cancer and their partners to help understand and deal with the ways cancer and its treatment may affect your sexuality.
  - Your sexual response
  - Treatment and its effects
  - Resuming sexual activity after treatment
  - Overcoming specific challenges
  - A note to partners
- Intimacy counselling
  - Intimacy counselling
    Find out more about our free, confidential counselling with medical specialists trained in intimacy, body image, sexual confidence and relationships. Available to all those facing cancer and their partners, including members of the LGBTQI community.
Prevent
- Prevent
- Get checked
  - Get checked
    Early detection offers one of the best chances of cure.
  - Find bowel cancer early
    - Faecal occult blood tests
  - Breast health
  - Prevent cervical cancer
    - Cervical Screening Directory
  - Prostate health
    - Prostate problems
    - Prostate testing
- Limit alcohol
  - Limit alcohol
    Evidence has linked alcohol consumption to various cancers.
  - What's a standard drink?
  - More on alcohol & cancer
- Eat a healthy diet
  - Eat a healthy diet
    We recommend a healthy body weight, regular exercise and a healthy diet.
- Be a healthy weight
  - Be a healthy weight
    Convincing evidence links obesity to various cancers.
  - Is your weight healthy?
  - Obesity prevention initiatives
- Be physically active
  - Be physically active
    Evidence links physical activity to reduced breast and colon cancer risk.
- 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.
- 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.
  - Hepatitis B & liver cancer - Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders
Research
- Research
- Biomedical grants
  - Biomedical grants
    Scientific work funded in universities, hospitals and research institutes.
  - Apply for funding
  - Summer vacation studentship applications
  - Sir Edward Dunlop Research Fellowship
  - Venture Grants Scheme
  - Grants-in-aid
  - Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
  - Search research projects
  - Fund a research award
  - Funding per tumour type
- Victorian Cancer Registry
  - Victorian Cancer Registry
    We register details of all cancer diagnoses to keep statistics.
  - What does the Victorian Cancer Registry do?
  - Statistics & data
  - Data access for research
  - VCR publications & reports
  - E-Path Project
  - Victorian Cancer Registry - Cancer Fact Sheets
  - Contact our cancer registry
- Epidemiology
- Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer
  - Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer
    Find out more about CBRC.
  - Meet the CBRC team
  - CBRC major topics and research projects
  - Publications
- Tobacco control
  - Tobacco control
    Research from the Victorian Centre for Tobacco Control (VCTC).
  - Nigel Gray Fellowship research, reports & publications
  - VCTC research & publications pre 2004
  - Nigel Gray Award for Achievement in Tobacco Control
  - Tobacco control researchers
  - VCTC reports & publications post 2004
- Our Forgotten Cancers Program
  - Our Forgotten Cancers Program
    Our Forgotten Cancers Program is committed to improving survival for less common and low survival cancers.
- Meet our researchers
  - Meet our researchers
    Team of researchers who have expanded our understanding of cancer.
- Research ethics
  - Research ethics
    In Australia, any research involving humans must consider ethics.
  - Research ethics submission forms
  - Research ethics review meetings
  - Animals & cancer research
- Search our research
  - Search our research
    Search the vast number of projects we've been involved in over the years.
Health professionals
- Health professionals
- 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 and want to improve their communication skills with patients and families
  - Clinical Consultation Skills Retreat 2018
  - Victorian Cancer Clinicians Communication Program (VCCCP)
    - VCCCP facilitators
    - VCCCP participants
  - Cancer education programs
    - Cancer Education Programs – Members Only
  - Clinical consultation skills webinar
  - Advance Care Planning Webinars
  - Statistical methods in medicine and public health
- Cervical Screening Providers
  - Cervical Screening Providers
    Cancer Council Victoria is dedicated to supporting the work of Nurse Cervical Screening providers.
  - Nurse Cervical Screening Provider Certification
  - Preceptors
  - Cervical screening resources
  - Nurse Ambassador Program
- General practice
  - General practice
    Resources and support for GPs through the Cancer Council GP Portal.
- Community health
  - Community health
    Resources and support for Community Health Professionals.
  - Cancer Screening Resources Hub
  - Education & training
  - Hepatitis & liver cancer
- Resources for dietitians
  - Resources for dietitians
    To support nutritional management of oncology patients.
- Clinical Network
  - Clinical Network
    Network of specialist health care professionals.
  - Members' area
  - Overview
  - Resources
  - Latest news
  - Projects
- Clinical practice guides
  - Clinical practice guides
    Medical guides for specific cancers.
- Optimal Care Pathways
  - Optimal Care Pathways
    Review of the Optimal Care Pathways (formerly known as Patient Management Frameworks).
- Referral information
  - Referral information
    Referral information for Legal and Financial Assistance Programs.
Get involved
- Get involved
- Donate
  - Donate
    You can make secure donations online to fund a variety of projects.
  - Make a one-off donation
    - One-off donation - Form
  - Make a regular donation
  - Leave a gift in your Will
  - In tribute
  - Fund a research award
  - Give in Celebration
- Fundraise
  - Fundraise
    Find a fundraising event to suit you.
  - Daffodil Day
  - Relay For Life
    - Relay For Life Volunteer Application Form
  - Shave
  - Fundraise your own way
  - Host a trivia night
  - Tuxedo Junction
  - Run Melbourne
  - Girls Night In
  - Walking Stars
  - Longest Day
  - Melbourne Marathon
  - Golf charity days
  - Paddle Across The Bay
  - The March Charge
- Shop online
  - Shop online
    Shop Cancer Council clothing, hats, sunscreen, sunglasses and more.
- Leave a gift in your Will
  - Leave a gift in your Will
    A gift of hope for generations to come.
- Get involved in research
  - Get involved in research
    Take part in research to help us find out more about the causes of cancer.
- Volunteer
  - Volunteer
    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
- Become a corporate supporter
  - Become a corporate supporter
    There are many ways for corporates to support the Cancer Council Victoria and help people effected by cancer.
- Donate a holiday
  - Donate a holiday
    Donate your holiday home to a give a cancer patient and their loved ones time away.
- Events
  - Events
    Upcoming events around Cancer Council Victoria.
About us
- About us
- Contact us
  - Contact us
    Addresses, phone numbers, parking and public transport information.
- Latest news and stories
  - Latest news and stories
    News from Cancer Council Victoria and stories of those affected by cancer.
- Media
  - Media
    Latest media releases and contacts for media liaison.
  - Search 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
- What we do (strategic plan)
  - What we do (strategic plan)
    Our strategic plan, outlining our mission, values, goals and priorities.
- Governance
  - Governance
    Cancer Council Victoria is a company limited by guarantee governed by a Board of Directors who are advised by committees.
  - 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
  - Publications
    Annual review, newsletters, booklets, information sheets and videos.
  - Newsletters
  - Fundraising videos
- Careers
  - Careers
    Interested in a career with Cancer Council Victoria? Find out more.
  - Job opportunities
  - Volunteering opportunities
  - Supporting Aboriginal Communities
- Annual reports
  - Annual reports
    Download our detailed reports on our achievements each year.
  - Archived annual reviews
  - Financial reports
  - Parliamentary reports
- History (80+ years)
  - History (80+ years)
    Snapshots of people and events from our long history.
  - The 1930s
  - The 1940s
  - The 1950s
  - The 1960s
  - The 1970s
  - The 1980s
  - The 1990s
  - The 2000s
  - The 2010s
- Aboriginal communities
  - Aboriginal communities
    Aboriginal communities peoples' health is everyone's responsibility.
- Culturally diverse communities
  - Culturally diverse communities
    We are committed to reducing the impact of cancer in culturally diverse communities.