• Prostate Cancer – Learn more about the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men
• Skin cancer & Vit B3 – A low cost way to prevent non-melanoma skin cancer
• Cancer and Aboriginal People – Aboriginal Patterns of Cancer Care Study
• Personalised Medicine – Is this the future of cancer treatment?
• Join a Research Study – Make yourself available for research and help reduce the burden of cancer

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Inside you will find:

• NSW Biobank – Creating one of the top ten biobanks in the world.
• CLEAR Study – The next steps in our study on Cancer, Lifestyle and Evaluation of Risk.
• Research Activity Report – The annual report launched by the Governor of NSW.
• Hereditary Cancer – A breakthrough discovery into why some cancers are hereditary.

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Freddy Sitas, Director of Research, Cancer Council NSW, writes:

Myths and cancer can go together hand in hand. Not surprisingly, in a complex disease that horribly impacts upon, and cuts short so many lives, there remain many questions around cancer causes. Despite cancer research increasingly unveiling more about the ‘big C’, we still see myths thrive.

What effect does this have? Myths are just part and parcel of the great unknown – right?

Unfortunately myths are undermining cancer prevention, with Australian patients placing stress about money and the mortgage above established causes of the disease such as smoking, obesity, and family history.

 An unprecedented Cancer Council survey of more than 2,850 cancer patients has revealed that nearly half of those questioned had no idea what caused their cancer, and a quarter thought that the disease could not be prevented.

 The study also revealed a gulf in the opinions of cancer patients depending on whether or not their type of cancer had a well known cause.  Breast cancer patients were 60 per cent more likely to blame stress than lung cancer patients who understood the link to smoking.

 “Breast cancer patients were the most uncertain about what caused their cancer and when faced with no tangible explanation, many blamed stress from the financial pressures of modern living,” said Associate Professor Freddy Sitas, lead study author from Cancer Council NSW’s research department.

 “Stress is linked to several health problems, but it does not cause cancer.  My big concern is that if the community is unsure about what causes the disease, people may not take the right lifestyle choices to prevent it. 

 “About 30 per cent of cancers can be prevented by making some really simple lifestyle choices such as keeping fit and active, avoiding smoking, and restricting junk food. Not only will these decisions prevent cancer, they’ll also make you feel better in everyday life.

 “People should also know their family history for hereditary conditions and make use of national cancer screening programs.” 

 Cancer Council NSW conducted this research project as part of its Cancer, Lifestyle, and Evaluation of Risk (CLEAR) study. 

Click here to read the abstract of the paper:

http://www.springerlink.com/openurl.asp?genre=article&id=doi:10.1007/s10552-011-9824-6

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• Spotlight on researcher – Dr Peter Greer.
• FamilyFIT – a program to increase child and parent activity.
• CLEAR Study – why we need your help.
• Prostate Cancer Study – researching use of alternative therapies.
• Patterns of Care Study – assessing patterns of care for pancreatic cancer patients.
• The Sun and Vitamin D – how to balance the need for sun and protection from it.

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• Participate online in CLEAR study.
• Advanced prostate cancer.
• Reduce smoking rates guide.
• Other causes of skin cancer.
• Help us improve care for.
• Mesothelioma sufferers.
• Cancer researcher honoured.

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• Side-effects of prostate treatment.
• 45 and Up study–skin cancer.
• Can we talk to you – The Cancer Council Community Speakers Program.
• Lung cancer and radiotherapy.
• What causes cancer?
• Coping with a cancer diagnosis.
• Cervical health study.

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