How we can help you

We have a range of free information and support services to help you manage the impact of cancer.

Talk to a cancer nurse

Speak to one of our experienced and understanding cancer nurses for information and support you can trust. Call a cancer nurse

Be informed about cancer

What is cancer?

Sunday 1 February 2015

Cancer is a disease of the cells, which are the body’s basic building blocks.

Types of cancer

Information about the diagnosis and treatment of different cancer types.

View all types of cancer

Treatments

Learn about cancer treatments and find your local treatment centre.

View all treatments

Advanced cancer

Thursday 1 December 2016

Learn more about advanced cancer.

Children, teens and young adults

Tuesday 25 March 2014

Information about cancer in children, teens and young adults.

Genetics & risk

Information about genetics, family history and cancer.

Aboriginal communities

Cancer information for aboriginal communities.

Contact our cancer nurses

Information and support 13 11 20
Support in your language 13 14 50
askanurse@cancervic.org.au

Family and friends

Learn more about supporting someone affected by cancer.

Holiday break program

Free short breaks for those affected by cancer and their families.

Connect and learn

Connect with others and participate in our free education programs.

Wig service

Our wig service is free, private and personalised.

Legal and financial

Information and support programs related to legal and financial matters.

Work

How to manage a work life and cancer.

Facing end of life

Learn about the physical and emotional impacts.

Aboriginal communities

Cancer information and support services for Victorian Aboriginal communities.

View full support service list

Cancer services Guide

This guide is an essential resource for people affected by cancer, including their family, friends and carers

View the guide

Managing my wellbeing

Common side effects

Learn about common side effects and ways to manage them.

Emotions

Friday 1 January 2016

Learn about common reactions to cancer diagnoses and how to adjust.

Exercise

Learn about the importance of exercise including tips and examples.

Grief

Saturday 1 April 2017

Understanding grief and ways to live with the loss of a loved one.

Holidays and travel

Learn about insurance and tips for managing special occasions.

Learning to relax

Tuesday 1 March 2016

Tips for ways to cope with the emotional impact of cancer.

Life after treatment

Information about the challenges you may face after treatment.

Nutrition

Understand more about nutrition and eating well during and after cancer treatment.

Sexuality and intimacy

Dealing with the ways cancer and treatment may affect your sexuality.

View full list for managing your wellbeing

How we can help you

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
    - Cancer clinical trials - What to know and who to ask - Webinar - Survey
  - Making decisions about your care
  - Travelling to treatment
    - Parking at cancer treatment centres
- 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
- 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
  - Talking to kids about cancer
  - Cancer and school
  - Facts and figures
- Genetics & risk
  - Genetics & risk
    Information about genetics, family history and cancer.
  - Family history of cancer
  - Family cancer centres
  - Genetic testing
  - Genetic counselling
  - Victorian Cancer Registry
  - Familial bowel cancer
  - Familial breast cancer
  - Familial melanoma
  - Familial ovarian cancer
  - Useful links
- Aboriginal communities
  - Aboriginal communities
    Cancer information for aboriginal communities.
Prevention
- Prevention
- Get checked
  - Get checked
    Early detection offers one of the best chances of cure.
  - Find bowel cancer early
    - Faecal occult blood tests (FOBT)
  - Breast health
  - Prevent cervical cancer
    - Where to go for your Cervical Screening Test
  - Prostate health
    - Prostate problems
    - Testing for prostate cancer
  - Hepatitis B & liver cancer
- Limit alcohol
  - Limit alcohol
    Cut down on alcohol to reduce your risk of cancer.
  - Drink Less, Live More
  - How alcohol causes cancer
  - What's a standard drink?
  - Safe level of alcohol
  - Tips to cut out alcohol
  - For health professionals
  - Our policy work on alcohol
- 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.
- 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.
  - Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people are at risk of getting liver cancer from chronic hepatitis B
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
  - Fatigue
  - 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.
- Exercise
  - Exercise
    Learn about the importance of exercise including tips and examples.
  - Exercise overview
  - Getting started
  - Aerobic exercise
  - Strength-training exercises
  - Flexibility exercises
  - Pelvic floor exercises
  - Nutrition and exercise webinars
- 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.
- Life after treatment
  - Life after treatment
    Information about the challenges you may face after treatment.
  - Living well after cancer
  - Understanding your feelings
  - Fear of the cancer coming back
  - Follow-up care
  - Impact on family and friends
  - Coping with side effects
  - Taking control of your health
  - Legal, financial & workplace concerns
  - Question checklist
  - Cancer Wellness Program
- Nutrition
  - Nutrition
    Understand more about nutrition and eating well during and after cancer treatment.
  - Nutrition overview
  - 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
    Dealing with the ways cancer and treatment may affect your sexuality.
  - Sexuality and intimacy
  - Your sexual response
  - Treatment and its effects
  - Resuming sexual activity after treatment
  - Overcoming specific challenges
  - A note to partners
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
    Learn more about supporting someone affected by cancer.
  - Caring for someone
  - How will I feel?
  - Caring for yourself
  - How relationships change
  - Caring for someone with advanced cancer
  - Support and information
  - Talking to kids about cancer
  - Cancer in the school community
  - Cancer in the workplace
  - Webinar
- Holiday break program
  - Holiday break program
    Free short breaks for those affected by cancer and their families.
- Connect and learn
  - Connect and learn
    Connect with others and participate in our free education programs.
  - Cancer Connect
  - Living with cancer
  - Support groups
  - Online community
  - Cancer Wellness Program
  - Contact a Cancer Nurse
- Wig service
  - Wig service
    Our wig service is free, private and personalised.
- Legal and financial
  - Legal and financial
    Information and support programs related to legal and financial matters.
  - Legal and financial advice
  - Financial assistance
  - Finances
- Work
  - Work
    How to manage a work life and cancer.
  - 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
    Learn about the physical and emotional impacts.
  - Facing end of life
  - 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.
Research
- Research
- Research news
  - Research news
    Get the latest cancer research news.
- 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
  - How much do we spend on external research?
- 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
  - Publications and 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 team
  - Major 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
    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.
- 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 & training
  - Education & training
    Education programs for people who work in a healthcare setting.
  - Clinical Consultation Skills Retreat
  - Victorian Cancer Clinicians Communication Program (VCCCP)
    - VCCCP members only
    - VCCCP participants only
  - Cancer education programs
    - Cancer Education Programs – Members Only
  - Clinical consultation skills webinar
  - Advance Care Planning Webinars
- Cervical Screening Providers
  - Cervical Screening Providers
    Information for Nurse Cervical Screening providers.
  - Cervical screening certification
  - Preceptors
  - Cervical screening resources
  - Nurse Ambassador Program
  - Nurse scholarships
- 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 Pathways (formerly 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
    - Make a one-off donation
  - Make a regular donation
  - Wills & bequests
  - Honour your loved one
  - Fund a research award
  - Give in celebration
- Fundraising events
  - Fundraising events
    Find a fundraising event to suit you.
  - Australia's Biggest Morning Tea
  - Relay For Life
    - Relay For Life volunteer application form
  - Shave or chop your hair
  - Fundraise your own way
  - Host a trivia night
  - Girls' Night In
  - Walking Stars
  - Longest Day
  - Melbourne Marathon 2019
  - Golf charity days
  - Paddle Across The Bay
  - The March Charge
  - Tuxedo Junction
  - Daffodil Day
    - Daffodil Day early registration
    - Daffodil Day School Registration
- 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.
- 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
- Become a corporate supporter
  - Become a corporate supporter
    There are many ways corporates can support our work.
- Donate a holiday
  - Donate a holiday
    Give a cancer patient some time away in your holiday home.
- Events calendar
  - Events calendar
    Upcoming events around Cancer Council Victoria.
- 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.
- Fund a research award
  - Fund a research award
    Research awards are a chance to fund a specific type of cancer research.
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
  - 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
- What we do
  - What we do
    Our strategic plan, outlining our mission, values, goals and priorities.
- 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
  - Publications
    Annual review, newsletters, booklets, information sheets and videos.
  - Newsletters
  - Fundraising videos
- Why work with us?
  - Why work with us?
    Interested in a career with Cancer Council Victoria? Find out more.
  - Work with us
  - Volunteer with us
- Annual reports
  - Annual reports
    Download our detailed reports on our achievements each year.
  - Archived annual reviews
  - Financial reports
  - Parliamentary reports
- Our history
  - Our history
    Snapshots of people and events from our long history.
  - Overview
  - 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 work to reduce the impact of cancer in diverse communities.
More
- More

How we can help you

Be informed about cancer

Practical support

Cancer services Guide

Managing my wellbeing