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Every contribution helps support those living with cancer. Whether a one-off donation or monthly gift, your support ensures funding stability for long-term goals and future generations.
Leave a legacy by including a gift in your Will, starting a tribute page for a loved one, or funding a research grant for early-career cancer researchers driving clinical innovations.
Organise a fundraising event in your community, either as a team or an individual. You can join one of our existing fundraising events or you might like to come up with your own way.
When organisations work together, we can have a greater impact for every Queenslander going through cancer and help amplify our message for all Australians.
However you get involved, you’re making a direct impact on the lives of Queenslanders affected by cancer. See the results of what we’ve all achieved.
By age 85, one in two Queenslanders will be diagnosed with some form of cancer – a condition where abnormal cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. Cancer Council Queensland offers the information, support and care you need whilst navigating a diagnosis.
Our team is here to listen and support you.
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To define cancer disease, it is a condition that starts in the body’s cells, which are the body’s basic building blocks and make up tissues and organs. Normally, cells grow, divide, and die in a well-regulated way to support growth, repair, and healing. But sometimes cells become abnormal and grow uncontrollably.
Cancer is the term used to describe these abnormal cells. In solid cancers, like breast or bowel cancers, the cells can form a lump or mass called a tumour. In blood cancers, such as leukaemia, the abnormal cells accumulate in the bloodstream.
Not all tumours are cancerous. Benign tumours grow slowly and usually stay in one place, not spreading to other parts of the body. Malignant, or cancerous, tumours can invade nearby tissues, destroying normal cells. The cancer cells can spread through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other areas.
Cancer begins as a primary cancer, meaning it develops in one specific area of the body. If it hasn’t spread beyond its original location, it’s referred to as localised cancer.
In some cases, primary cancer cells can break away from the original tumour and move through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other areas of the body. Once they reach a new location, they can grow and form a secondary cancer, known as metastasis.
Even though secondary cancer grows in a new location, it keeps the name of the primary cancer. For example, bowel cancer that spreads to the liver is called metastatic bowel cancer. Secondary cancers can be life-threatening as they disrupt the normal function of vital organs.
What causes cancer is not always known, but certain factors can increase the likelihood of developing it. These include carcinogens like tobacco, UV radiation, and asbestos, which can damage the cell blueprint.
At least one in three cancers can be prevented through healthy lifestyle choices such as drinking less alcohol, quitting smoking, using sun protection, eating a nutritious diet and being physically active.
Each year in Australia more than 13,000 cancer deaths are due to smoking, sun exposure, poor diet, alcohol, inadequate exercise or being overweight.
Some cancers result from an inherited ‘faulty’ gene.
It’s important to know not all cancers are linked to these risk factors and sometimes cancer develops without a clear cause.
By 85, one in two Queenslanders will be diagnosed with cancer, and it’s estimated that around 350,000 people in the state will be living with the disease by 2030. Each year, more than 32,000 new cases are diagnosed – about one every 17 minutes – while around 9,800 people die from cancer each year.
Whether you’d like to learn about what type of support is available to you, speak to someone who has been through it before, or get some practical advice, our 13 11 20 support line is here for all Queenslanders.
Like many illnesses, cancer may cause some symptoms. Signs of cancer can be vague and easily associated with other conditions such as headache, fatigue, weight loss, or a persistent cough. Cancer and its symptoms can vary between genders.
The only way to know if what you’re experiencing are actually symptoms of cancer disease is by discussing your concerns with your doctor.
They may conduct a physical examination and recommend diagnostic tests such as blood tests, imaging scans, or specific procedures like a colonoscopy, endoscopy, or colposcopy, depending on your symptoms.
Depending on the type of cancer, common warning signs of cancer in your body could include unusual changes in your body such as a persistent cough, an unexplained lump, persistent headache, breast changes, dizziness, fatigue, unexpected bleeding, skin changes or a sore that won’t heal, or sudden weight loss.
Cancer and its symptoms can also vary based on biological sex.
It is important to note these symptoms can be linked to many other less worrying conditions and are not always indications of cancer.
In some cases, cancer symptoms develop slowly and may not be obvious for months or even years. Some cancers are discovered during routine medical check-ups or screening tests.
If you experience any unexplained changes or signs of cancer, it’s important to see your doctor. Finding cancer early makes a big difference in treatment and outcomes.
Blood work alone cannot diagnose cancer but is often used to investigate signs of cancer and may also be done during or after treatment. A full blood count checks for abnormalities in red and white blood cells or platelets, which can indicate issues like leukemia or infection.
Blood tests can also show how the liver and kidneys are working. Urine may also be tested for abnormal cells or bleeding.
In some cases, blood, urine, or tissue samples are checked for tumour markers – proteins made by certain cancer cells. While high levels of tumour markers can suggest cancer, they’re not definitive, as other conditions can also cause elevated levels, and some people with cancer have normal levels. This is often part of a larger diagnostic process to guide further testing, such as imaging or biopsies.
Cancer can sometimes run in families, but it’s not always genetic. It’s not uncommon for multiple family members to have cancer, but this is often just by chance or because they share similar environmental and lifestyle risk factors, like smoking or too much sun exposure.
In some cases, cancer is linked to an inherited faulty gene, passed down from a parent, but this is rare. Only about 5% of certain cancers are due to familial or hereditary faulty gene. While having this faulty gene increases the risk, it doesn’t mean that every family member will develop cancer.
At least one in three cancer cases could be prevented by making cancer-smart lifestyle choices. Each year, thousands of cancer deaths are linked to smoking, sun exposure, poor diet, alcohol use, lack of exercise, or being overweight.
Small changes can make a big difference. Quitting smoking, protecting your skin from the sun, eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, limiting alcohol, staying active, and maintaining a healthy weight are all ways to reduce your risk.
Some environmental or workplace cancer risk factors, like exposure to harmful chemicals or asbestos, may also be preventable by following safety guidelines and using protective equipment.
Other than common skin cancers (non-melanoma skin cancers), prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Queensland, affecting around 7,500 people each year. Melanoma comes next, with over 4,200 cases annually, followed by breast cancer (more than 3,800 cases), colorectal cancer (over 3,100 cases), and lung cancer (around 3,000 cases).
Although the cancer death rate in Queensland has been decreasing by 1.9% annually since 2017, around 9,800 people still lose their lives to the disease each year. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, claiming around 2,000 lives annually. It is followed by colorectal cancer (over 1,000 deaths), prostate cancer (700+), pancreatic cancer (700+), and breast cancer (500+).
