Cancer Council Victoria

Did you know there’s a free bowel screening test that could save your life?

If you’re aged 50-74 you will get a free test kit in the mail every two years. People aged 45-49 can also now opt into receiving a kit by heading to ncsr.gov.au/boweltest.

Doing this easy test could save your life and ensure you’re here for the everyday moments that matter to you most, like watching footy with your mates.

Head to cancervic.org.au/bowel for more information.

This week we would like to spotlight the Patterson Cheney Cars and Isuzu Ute team who recently raised an incredible $51,000!

In honour of a staff member that sadly recently passed away, they embarked on a challenge to walk 20km and endured a gruelling survival course.

‘The Patterson Cheney Toyota & Isuzu Ute Managers worked hard, pushed themselves to their limits, and were outstanding at completing their goal!'

There are many paths you can take to Fundraise Your Way. If you would like to learn more, check out our website: https://ccvic.org/3yM6UDF

Happy Father’s Day! Why not also give your kids a present this year?

By doing the free bowel screening test kit when it comes in the mail, you can make sure you’re around for the moments that matter most to them.

If you’re aged 50-74 you will get a free test kit in the mail every two years.

Aged 45-49? You can also now opt into receiving a kit by heading to www.ncsr.gov.au/boweltest.

❓ Question:
Will I be paid to participate in a cancer clinical trial?

💡 Answer:
People participating in cancer clinical trials do not usually receive payment. In some circumstances, you may be paid back for certain out-of-pocket expenses like travel, and parking. You should confirm this information with the trial coordinator before you participate.

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Got another question on clinical trials? Message us, drop it in the comments below or head to: https://ccvic.org/3Xi8Hd0

When Victorian mum of two Kim noticed she was feeling uncharacteristically lethargic and nauseous, she knew something was not right.

After a visit to her GP and some tests, she was diagnosed with stage 4 malignant Non Hodgkin's Follicular Lymphoma (NHL) at the age of 46.

“It was completely out of the blue,” she said.

“My doctor told me that my cancer could have been growing for two to three years without me noticing.”

The year prior Kim had been hospitalised with pneumonia, which she said was “probably an early indicator”.

“For at least eight months before I was diagnosed, I had noticed feeling very tired, but I put this off as menopause or just being run down,” she said.

Kim is now tumour-free and being closely monitored for any changes.

She is now urging other people to pay attention to their bodies and any unexplained changes, and seek medical help as soon as possible.

“Regular check-ups should be thought of like how you regularly chat to your best friends about what’s going on. Make sure you regularly talk to your doctor so they are part of your circle, and you can tell them what you are feeling,” she said.

Find information on cancer symptoms and screening at earlydetection.org.au.

Aged 25 or under? Missed out on getting the HPV vaccine at school?

You can still catch up for free until you turn 26 through your doctor, some pharmacies or local council!

This life-saving vaccine can protect you against a range of diseases, including cervical cancer, other HPV related cancers and ge***al warts.

Most people will only need one dose, so book it in today!

Learn more about the HPV vaccine and how to get it: hpvvaccine.org.au

Daffodil Day is today! 🌼

For all that cancer takes from us – our mums, uncles, friends, workmates, parts of ourselves– Daffodil Day is our moment to give.

Visit daffodilday.com.au today and give to fund lifesaving cancer research.

For all that cancer takes, give hope this Daffodil Day, 22 August for the 1 in 2 of us who will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85.

💛Donate to cancer research today

Together, we can help find the next lifesaving cancer breakthrough. Visit daffodilday.com.au today and give to fund lifesaving cancer research.

Just 2 days until Daffodil Day!

We can't wait to see you at one of our bright and beautiful Daffodil Day stalls.
Come down, buy a bunch, and give hope this Daffodil Day 💛💛💛

Find a stall near you at www.daffodilday.com.au/states-and-territories

We're so excited to have teamed up with some of Australia's most talented artists to bring you these unique and exclusive digital cards featuring the international symbol of hope - the daffodil.

Each card is as unique as the artists themselves, so snap one up and send a message of hope today.

Featuring the artwork of:
Evi O
Beci Orpin
Ghostpatrol
Leaf and Petal Design
The Ken Done Gallery
Madeleine Stamer
Peter Farmer

Buy your e-card here: https://www.daffodilday.com.au/buy-daffodils/send-virtual-flowers

💛 Each year, we’re lucky to have a range of florists creating beautiful bouquets of daffodils, with a portion of proceeds going towards supporting people impacted by cancer. Here are some of the florists who will be supporting us this Daffodil Day!

Daily Blooms
Flowers Vasette
Flouergardn
Say It With Flowers
Flowers Across Melbourne

For all that cancer takes, give. Purchase and give a bunch to someone you care about this Thursday. 💐

To find a daffodil stall near you, check out our website: https://ccvic.org/3Aojqti

James and Robert, sons of music legend John Farnham, share an update on their dad’s oral cancer diagnosis and road to recovery.

“We’ve seen first-hand how crucial cancer research and support is, and we are so grateful for the treatment and care dad has been given.

We’re urging Aussies to get behind Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day – a bunch of daffodils could help save lives.”

We’re wishing John and his beautiful family all the best 💛

Visit https://ccvic.org/4dFrTat to see how you can get involved or donate!

‘He definitely can sing’: Inside John Farnham’s cancer recovery The Voice is back with Australian music legend John Farnham singing at home and cracking jokes as he continues to recover from his battle with oral cancer.

The fact that 46-year-old Jo was the same age as her mother when she was diagnosed with breast cancer was a coincidence Jo couldn’t ignore. So when a biopsy confirmed two malignant tumours in her left breast and a benign tumour in her right, she was quickly scheduled for a double mastectomy.

Jo’s surgery took place on the anniversary of her mother’s passing from breast cancer.

“That was like 18-20 years ago,” says Jo. “So, she was under 50 where it's quite aggressive and not a lot of options were there for her. I mean the things that I went through right now wasn't available then.”

The advances in diagnosis, treatment, and care that Jo experienced in contrast to her mother, shows just how effective cancer research has been in improving survival rates for many cancers.

This Daffodil Day, for all that cancer takes, give even more hope through lifesaving cancer research.
💛 Donate
🙌 Fundraise
🌼 Give daffodils

Visit www.daffodilday.com.au to learn more.

Just one week until Daffodil Day! We can't wait to create an explosion of yellow right across Australia and show everyone that hope shines bright this Daffodil Day.

Today is Cancer Nurses Day, a day to celebrate the incredible work being done by cancer nurses nationwide.

At Cancer Council’s 13 11 20 support line, our dedicated cancer nurses like Laura make an incredible impact.

Laura has been a Clinical Nurse Specialist on our support line since 2023 and brings over 15 years of oncology experience.

“I’ve always loved connecting and building rapport with people. Talking to them about the real experience that they’re having. The 13 11 20 support line is a nice way for me to use my nursing experience and help in a different capacity.”

Whether you're a patient, carer, family member or friend, our nurses are here to help. The nurses offer a safe space to debrief, get some extra information, or be linked in with other services if needed.

Thank you to all cancer nurses for their dedication and compassion 💛

Need support? You can call our nurses on 13 11 20 Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm or visit www.cancervic.org.au/contact-cancer-nurse


Cancer Nurses Society of Australia - CNSA

"CAR T cell therapy is a really exciting new treatment for cancer and it’s been really successful for the treatment of blood cancers, however so far we haven’t really translated it to the treatment of solid tumours, including prostate cancer" - Dr Laura Porter

With prostate cancer being one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in Australia, finding new and improved treatments with fewer side effects will have an enormous impact not only on the cancer patient themselves, but also their loved ones.

Dr Porter is now finding new ways to build on the revolutionary immunotherapy to benefit prostate cancer patients. By re-engineering killer T cells to survive in the hostile environment around a tumour, she's giving the immune cells the best chance to survive and kill off the cancer.

"That’s what’s so exciting about immunotherapy," said Dr Porter. "Basically we’re sort of re-teaching the immune system to fight cancer."

Dr Porter's work is being funded by generous donors to Cancer Council. Your donation this Daffodil Day will support more research breakthoughs like this.

Donate today at www.daffodilday.com.au

"We were content with what we had access to, we were just hoping that a new method, a new treatment and new trial would come along that would blow it out of the water and she would be healthy" - Scott

After stomach cramps led to a stage 4 bowel cancer diagnosis, Sam and her husband Scott were determined to give their two-year-old son Harlan as many memories as they could for as long as they could.

"Sam was in that mindset of, ‘I do have something to live for in Harlan’. Her fight was always, ‘I want to live as long as possible for him’. Her mentality was, ‘if I've got five years, then I'm going to give him five years to remember me by’. That's what she thought every time she went back on a new regime of chemotherapy or radiation, it was always for Harlan."

Sam was 32 when she was diagnosed and she passed away at the age of 37. Cancer research gave her more time with her son to create lasting memories and precious moments together.

But there is more to be done to stop families losing loved ones too soon.

This Daffodil Day, donate or fundraise for lifesaving cancer research. For all that cancer takes, please give what you can. Learn more at www.daffodilday.com.au

Daffodil Day Dip - tips for doing the dip.

You've registered, shared your dip on Facebook, and have the sponsors lined up to hold you to the challenge. It's go time!

🟡Take a before pic - don't forget your bright yellow swimming cap!
🟡 Have a big towel and warm jacket ready to put on after your dip (if you're at the beach, keep them out of the way of curious dogs looking to post some pee-mail!).
🟡Enter the water with purpose - this is no time to focus on the creeping cold - focus on your breathing.
🟡 Allow your body to adjust, it will bring blood vessels to the surface to protect you from the cold.
🟡After your plunge be sure to take another pic - towel dry and get that jacket on.
🟡Gee you're brave 🤩 Post your pics to Facebook or Instagram and inspire your friends to donate even more!

Learn more at www.daffodilday.com.au

Watching the marathon runners compete this weekend? Cancer journeys can feel like running a marathon sometimes – with one foot in front of the other. Our support team is there for you with every step 💛



📷 Source: Pinterest

Fancy a cold dip? It's said to have a bunch of benefits for your general health and wellbeing!

And if you sign up to do the Daffodil Day Dip, you can add one more hugely important benefit to the list - bringing people together to raise money for cancer research.

For all that cancer takes, give it a go this August!

Register your dip here 👉 www.daffodilday.com.au/fb/daffodil-day-dip-2024

All of this sport talk has us feeling active 👟

Exercise can have significant benefits for those undergoing cancer treatment. It can help to reduce side effects, aid in recovery and improve mobility 🏊

Check out our Exercise for People Living with Cancer booklet here: https://ccvic.org/4dtQIFA 🏅



📷 Source: Pinterest

When 39-year-old Lou, found a small lump in her breast, the idea that it would be aggressive cancer was the furthest thing from her mind.

“We jumped into this process and that’s when we started to learn through her lack of positive treatment response that Lou’s rare form of cancer, called triple negative, was immune to everything the doctors administered.” shared her husband, Dom.

Your support this Daffodil Day is helping to fund cancer research into treatments for triple negative breast cancer, so that families, like Lou's, can be spared the heartbreak of losing a loved one.

💛 Donate
🙌 Fundraise
🌼 Buy daffodils

For all that cancer takes, give this Daffodil Day. Learn more at www.daffodilday.com.au

Heralding the return of spring after a long winter, the daffodil is a symbol of hope, life, and resilience for people with cancer.

🌼🌼🌼 This Daffodil Day, give hope to the almost 1 in 2 Australians who are diagnosed with cancer.

By donating to cancer research this August, you'll be helping improve survival rates and nurturing a brighter cancer-free future for all.

Donate today or sign up to fundraise at www.daffodilday.com.au 💛

Today is World Hepatitis Day and we’re shining a spotlight on the link between hepatitis B and liver cancer.

Hepatitis B is a virus that can affect your liver and increase your risk of liver cancer. Over half of all liver cancer cases worldwide are caused by a hepatitis B infection.

The good news is that there is a simple blood test that can help to find hepatitis B early, before it can affect your liver. Through management and treatment of the virus, hepatitis B-related liver cancer can be prevented.

Finding hepatitis B early can save your life.

Find out more: https://ccvic.org/3SkWLEp

Early detection of cancer saves lives.

So keep your health in check by participating in routine bowel, breast, and cervical screening programs. Stay alert to any changes in your body – it could make all the difference.

If you’re not sure about symptoms or need general cancer information and support, call 13 11 20 and speak to one of our experienced cancer nurses.

Find more information on cancer symptoms and screening at: www.earlydetection.org.au

Placebos are used in clinical trials to compare with the experimental treatment being investigated.

The placebo looks the same as the experimental intervention but doesn’t have any active ingredients or beneficial effects. Researchers use placebos to better understand the real effect of the new, experimental treatment.

Every clinical trial is different and will have a different structure depending on what they are testing and who they are testing it in. Because of this, not every clinical trial involves a placebo.

In cancer treatment trials, placebo interventions will always be given in addition to standard of care treatment (if there is a known existing treatment).

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Got another question on clinical trials? Message us, drop it in the comments below or head to: https://ccvic.org/3WzEWE5

"My name's Kellie. I'm a year-round dipper. Some people call me 'The Polar Bear'.

Last year I did the Daffodil Day Dip because I wanted to give back to Cancer Council who supported me during my cancer treatment in 2022.

Throughout the month of August I dipped around many beaches and swimming pools with my fabulous yellow Daffodil Cap. The more I was dipping and posting updates on Facebook the more donations I was receiving. It was overwhelming.

Thats when I got my motivation "mojo" back for all things water activities.

I will be doing it again this year. It's a lot of fun. Give it a go!"

Register to dip here 👉 www.daffodilday.com.au/fb/daffodil-day-dip-2024

Are you ready to take the plunge? ❄️

Take on the invigorating cold water swimming challenge this August with the Daffodil Day Dip, and make a real splash!

You'll even get a free swimming cap 🏊

Getting involved is easy:
1. Join the Daffodil Day Dip Facebook group
2. Register and create your Facebook fundraiser
3. Take the plunge anytime in August
4. Raise funds to support people affected by cancer 💛

Register here 👉 www.daffodilday.com.au/fb/daffodil-day-dip-2024