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Cancer and COVID-19

Cancer and COVID-19

Get the facts on all things cancer and COVID-19

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If you test positive to COVID-19, let your treating team know as soon as possible, as you may be eligible for COVID-19 treatments. You might also need to discuss temporary changes to your treatment.
A third primary COVID-19 vaccine dose is recommended for immunocompromised people aged 12 and over.
In addition, a booster dose is now recommended for all Australians aged 18 years and over.
There is strong evidence that a booster dose improves protection against the Omicron variant.
The vaccine protects you against becoming very sick if you get COVID-19.

COVID-19 vaccination for patients with cancer is highly recommended.
People with cancer who contract COVID-19 are twice as likely to have severe symptoms and require hospital treatment.
If you contract COVID-19, your cancer treatment could be disrupted.
While these vaccines have been developed faster than ever before, none of the steps in safety testing have been skipped.
People with cancer are at no greater risk of side effects from the vaccines than anyone else.
None of the vaccines contain the live virus. This means they cannot give you COVID-19.

Cancer and COVID-19 FAQs

Answers to common questions about COVID-19 and the vaccines.

Contact our cancer nurses

COVID-19 is especially difficult for Australians undergoing cancer treatment, cancer survivors and their families and friends. If you have cancer, your immune system may not be as strong as it is normally, and you may be at higher risk of infection with COVID-19.

To minimise your risk during and after treatment, you should continue to follow any specific advice or standard precautions recommended by your treatment team. This is on top of general advice that has already been released by the State and Federal Governments.

Call our experienced cancer nurses on 13 11 20, many of who are practicing cancer nurses, for information and support to help ease your COVID-19 concerns, answer any questions you may have, and connect you with support services across the state.

Latest news

Read updates, stories and advice about cancer and COVID-19. Read more

Cancer, COVID-19 & You Survey

Share your experiences of cancer during COVID-19.

Your COVID-19 action plan

Preparing for COVID-19, testing, and what to do if you test positive.

COVID-19 vaccines

Download our vaccine fact sheet for people affected by cancer. Read more

COVID-19 and your health

Learn how COVID-19 can affect your health, cancer treatment and more.

Don't delay

People with signs of cancer, may not be contacting their GPs to discuss new symptoms.

Hospital visitor restrictions

Practical tips and advice for patients and carers

Telehealth for patients and carers

Learn how to get the most out of your telehealth consultation.

Our support services and COVID-19

Find updates on our support services at this time.

Information in other languages

Up-to-date information on COVID-19 and cancer in 12 different languages.

Smoking and COVID-19

Learn about risk factors, complications and more from Quit Victoria.

COVID-19 for health professionals

Learn about cancer and COVID-19, and support services for your patients.

Keep up to date

Receive updates about our events, resources, and cancer news and information.

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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?
    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