Cancer facts in your area

• Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in Australian women - Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in Queanbeyan, with an incidence of approximately 17 new cases per year.  Protect yourself - all women over 50 should have a mammogram every two years.

• Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men in NSW.  Prostrate cancer is the most common form of cancer in Queanbeyan with an incidence of 22 new cases per year.  Most prostate cancers occur in men over 65 - and most are not life threatening.

• Australia has the highest rates of melanoma in the world! Melanoma in Queanbeyan has 14.5 new cases per year.  Protection for you and your family is easy - slip on a shirt, slop on 30+ broad-spectrum sunscreen and slap on a hat.  And don't forget to reapply the sunscreen regularly.

• Bowel cancer/Colorectal cancer is one of the most curable cancers, if it's detected early.  In Queanbeyan there 22.5 new cases per year.  You can reduce your risk of bowel cancer by eating a balanced diet high in fruits and vegetables and exercising regularly.  Men and women over fifty should be screened each year - you can buy a kit at your local chemist, or ask your GP for more details.

• Lung cancer in Queanbeyan has approximately 15 new cases each year.  To reduce your risk, give up smoking - for help, call the Quitline on 13 78 48.

The Cancer Council in Queanbeyan

During 2010 - 2011 residents of the Queanbeyan area were able to access the full range of free support and information services.  The Cancer Council Helpline, 13 11 20 is the contact point for all Cancer Council support and information services.  An online directory that provides quick and easy reference for cancer services throughout the state is available on: www.cancercouncil.com.au.

• Cancer Council Helpline is a confidential phone service that provides free information, advice and support on all aspects of cancer to residents of the Queanbeyan Shire.  During last year 16,000 people across NSW received free confidential information and support from cancer professionals.  

• Callers also took advantage of the Call Back Service, which offers further support and feedback. 

• Referral to free counselling services and legal assistance is now available via the Helpline, 131120. 

• Cancer Council's Support and Information Packs are for those experiencing cancer and are available free of charge.  

• The full range of Cancer Council booklets, brochures and other resources are freely available via the Helpline on 13 11 20.  A total of 232,000 of the "Understanding Cancer" series were distributed throughout the state and there were more than 430,000 online "views". 

• Cancer Council NSW has a financial assistance scheme for cancer patients and their families and local residents have received financial assistance which included food and fuel vouchers, payment of rent, payment of gas and electricity bills.  Last year Cancer Council NSW provided $490,000 worth of financial assistance in the form of grants, subsidised more than 20,000 nights worth of patient accommodation and funded more than 706,000kms of patient transport for people throughout the state.

• Telephone Support Groups offer emotional support, information and advice to people who have cancer.  They help by connecting people over the phone are for those who are having trouble finding or accessing a support group.  Groups are convened fortnightly and are run by two trained facilitators per group.  This service is free of charge and can be accessed through the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20.  

• Cancer Council Connect is a one-to-one peer support program, which connects patients with a carefully trained volunteer that has been through a similar cancer and treatment experience.  Residents of Queanbeyan and around the state are involved in delivering this service as well as accessing it.

• An interactive web based service for cancer patients, families and friends is available online: www.cancerconnections.com.au.

• Cancer Council NSW has trained community speakers.  These volunteer speakers ensure that relevant and up to date information about various cancers is available to the community.  The speakers cover a range of topics including skin cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer and research.  The Cancer Council's Community Speaker program has presented to local community and corporate groups and sun shade marquees were loaned for a number of community events.  You can contact the community speakers by calling 02 4223 0200 or email communityspeakers.southern@nswcc.org.au.

• Through the "Saving Life, an agenda for cancer control - 2011 and beyond" campaign, Cancer Council concentrated on five issues in the lead up to the State elections in 2011: burden-free transport and accommodation for cancer patients, more radiotherapy services across NSW, more coordinated and consistent cancer care throughout the state, smoke-free dining and drinking in all venues and stronger safeguards in selling tobacco.  The campaign continues post election.  For more information go to www.savinglife.com.au.

• Cancer Council supports The Parents Jury.  This is a web-based forum that aims to give parents and other carers a voice to influence the food and activity choices available to children.  The Jury is a project of The Cancer Council Australia in conjunction with Diabetes Australia and the Australasian Society for the Study of Obesity.  The group are currently calling for changes to food advertising to children.  Further information can be found at www.parentsjury.org.au

• Other recent advocacy campaigns include the Junkbusters campaign aimed to reduce junk food advertising targeted at children: visit: www.junkbusters.com.au

• In the fight against bowel cancer, the Get Behind Bowel Screening campaign is ongoing. For more information log onto www.getbhindbowelscreening.com.au

• Cancer Council NSW conducts Nutrition Surveys across the state investigating the cost, access and availability of certain foods, including fresh fruit and vegetables from a range of retail outlets.  The results of this survey have informed a number of our current programs and will be used to inform future nutrition campaigns.

• Cancer Council is working with child care centres and primary schools to promote the Early Childhood and Primary School "Sunsmart" programs.  The program encourages the development of "Sunsmart" policy to ensure children are protected from the dangers of the sun. This is often done in conjunction with in-school education programs for children from infants and primary schools.