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Cancer information

Questions about cancer?

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

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Cancer information
- Cancer information
- What is cancer?
  - What is cancer?
    Where cancer starts, how it spreads, common risk factors and symptoms.
- Types of cancer
  - Types of cancer
    Explore our A-Z list of cancer types, with information on diagnosis and treatment.
- Treatments
- Rare and less common cancers
  - Rare and less common cancers
    A cancer is rare or less common when it only affects a small number of people.
- Advanced cancer
- Genetics and risk
- Children, teens and young adults
Managing daily life
- Managing daily life
- Common side effects
- Emotions
  - Emotions
    It is normal to experience a range of emotions when you have cancer.
- Grief
  - Grief
    Grief is the process of responding to loss and it can affect all parts of your life.
- Nutrition
  - Nutrition
    Eating well is beneficial during and after cancer treatment.
- Exercise
  - Exercise
    Aerobic, strength, flexibility and pelvic floor exercises for people with cancer.
- Cancer and pregnancy
  - Cancer and pregnancy
    Being diagnosed with cancer while you are pregnant is rare, but it can happen.
- Sexuality and intimacy
  - Sexuality and intimacy
    Cancer may affect the role sexuality and intimacy play in your life.
- Learning to relax
  - Learning to relax
    Coping with cancer is challenging and it is important to look after yourself.
- Living well after cancer
  - Living well after cancer
    You may continue to face challenges even after cancer treatment has ended.
- Holidays and travel
  - Special occasions and celebrations
  - Travel insurance and 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.
- Contact cancer support
  - Contact cancer support
    Speak to our trusted and compassionate cancer nurses on 13 11 20 or via email.
- Facing end of life
  - Facing end of life
    Information on dealing with, planning for and looking after somone at the end of life.
- Caring for someone with cancer
  - Caring for someone with cancer
    Caring can be rewarding but also challenging, both physically and emotionally.
- Wig service
- Connect and learn
- Financial and legal
  - Financial and legal
    Information and support programs related to legal and financial matters.
- Cancer counselling services
  - Cancer counselling services
    Free, short term phone counselling services to help you work through any cancer related concerns.
- Work
  - Work
    Information for employees and employers.
- 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.
- LGBTIQ+ communities
  - LGBTIQ+ communities
    Cancer information and support services for LGBTIQ+ communities.
- Aboriginal communities
  - Aboriginal communities
    Cancer information and support services for Victorian Aboriginal communities.
Prevention
- Prevention
- Get checked
- Limit 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.
Research
- Research
- Research news
  - Research news
    Get the latest cancer research news.
- Research grants
- Clinical Trials
  - Clinical Trials
    Find out how we help patients access clinical trials.
- 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.
- Research integrity
  - Research integrity
    Principles for the responsible and ethical conduct of research.
- 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
- Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer
- Cancer Epidemiology Division
Get involved
- Get involved
- Donate
- Leave a gift in your Will
  - Leave a gift in your Will
    A gift of hope for generations to come.
- Fundraise
- Volunteer with us
  - Volunteer with us
    Join the fight against cancer and volunteer with us.
- Community engagement
  - Community engagement
    Share your story to help others, give back and be heard.
- Give a major gift
  - Give a major gift
    Learn more about philanthropy at Cancer Council Victoria.
- Become a corporate supporter
  - Become a corporate supporter
    There are many ways corporates can support our work.
- 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.
- 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
- Cervical screening providers
  - Cervical screening providers
    Information for Nurse Cervical Screening providers.
- Optimal Care Pathways
  - Optimal Care Pathways
    The Optimal Care Pathways (formerly Patient Management Frameworks) were developed to provide a consistent statewide approach to care management in each tumour stream.
- ACCESS Project
  - ACCESS Project
    A project to improve access to supportive care for people affected by cancer.
- Clinical Network
  - Clinical Network
    Network of specialist health care professionals.
- Community health
  - Community health
    Resources and support for Community Health Professionals.
- Clinical practice guides
  - Clinical practice guides
    Medical guides for specific cancers.
- Financial and legal referrals
  - 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.
- Cancer counselling service
  - Cancer counselling service
    Free, short-term phone counselling service to help your patients.
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 2020.
- Work with us
  - Job vacancies
  - Volunteer with us
- Media releases
  - Media releases
    Latest media releases and contacts for media liaison.
- Policy and Advocacy
  - Policy and Advocacy
    Influencing law and policy to improve cancer outcomes for all Victorians.
- Governance
- Publications and videos
  - Newsletters
- Annual reviews
- 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