Reduce your risk

It may surprise you to learn that at least one in three cancer cases is preventable and the number of cancer deaths can be reduced significantly by choosing a cancer smart lifestyle.

More than 13,000 cancer deaths each year are due to smoking, sun exposure, poor diet, alcohol, inadequate exercise or being overweight.

So one of the simplest things you can do to help beat cancer is to make a healthier lifestyle choice. Cancer Council provides a wealth of information and support through programs like Quit and SunSmart to help you reduce your risk.

Early detection is also key; the earlier cancer is caught, the easier it is to treat and the better the outcome for the patient.

You can help beat cancer by simply completing that screening test - whether it's a Pap smear, mammogram or bowel cancer test - that you've been putting off.

We also advise the Australian Government and other bodies on practices and policies to help prevent and control cancer, for example our campaign to expand the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.

At times we work with cancer patients and their families to highlight these important messages. Last year Wes Bonny's family made this TV commercial with us to warn other people of the dangers of the sun: