Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer amongst women in Australia.

Its incidence is increasing – with 1 in 7 Australian women and about 1 in 600 Australian men expected to be diagnosed in their lifetime.
9 Australians still lose their life to the disease every single day.

Symptoms of breast cancer may include:

• A lump or thickening in the breast, especially if it is only in one breast
• Changes to the shape or size of the breast
• Changes to the shape of the nipple, such as crusting, sores or ulcers, redness or inversion (a nipple that turns in when it used to point out).
• Changes to the skin of the breast, such as dimpling (sometimes looking like an orange peel), a rash, scaly appearance, unusual redness or other colour changes
• Fluid leaking or discharge from the nipple that occurs without squeezing
• Persistent, unusual pain that doesn’t go away
• Swelling or discomfort in the armpit
  
  

Get involved with Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October by:

• Educating yourself and spreading awareness about breast cancer
• Making a donation
• Volunteering
• Speaking with your GP if you have any questions

For more information, visit:https://nbcf.org.au/about-breast-cancer

On World Heart Day 2023, we’re asking the world to: USE ❤️ KNOW ❤️

World Heart Day is a reminder to everyone around the world to take care of their hearts. This year’s campaign focuses on the essential step of knowing our hearts first.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the world’s number one killer, causing over 18.6 million deaths per year. 

CVD is a class of diseases that affect the heart or blood vessels (veins and arteries). More people die from CVD worldwide than from any other cause: over 18.6 million every year. Of these deaths, 85% are due to coronary heart diseases (e.g heart attacks) and cerebrovascular diseases (e.g. strokes) and mostly affect low- and middle-income countries.

However, although impressive and strong, your heart can also become vulnerable from habitual risk factors like smoking, diabetes, cholesterol, eating an unhealthy diet, or living with high blood pressure.

Get involved this September by:

• Informing the community
• Taking care of your heart health
• Raising awareness on social media
• Volunteering

Home

Dementia Action Week 2023 is from Monday 18 September to Sunday 24 September, with World Alzheimer’s Day occurring on Thursday 21 September.

This year’s theme is Act Now for a Dementia-Friendly Future.

Since 2019, the focus of the Dementia Action Week campaign has been to reduce stigma and discrimination experienced by people living with dementia and their carers.

Communities that take action to become dementia-friendly have:

• less fear and a greater understanding of dementia
• less stigma and discrimination
• more support and better systems for people living with dementia to live well in their community for longer.

Some ways you can do this include:

• Host a morning tea or other event.
• Meet with Dementia Advocates or your local Dementia Alliance.
• Encourage your friends, family and co-workers to become Dementia Friends.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ,VISIT:

https://www.dementia.org.au/dementia-action-week

It’s our national day of action when we remind Australians that every day is the day to  ask, ‘are you OK?’ and start a meaningful conversation whenever they spot the signs that someone they care about might be struggling with life.

R U OK? is a harm prevention charity that encourages people to  stay connected and have conversations that can help others through difficult times in their lives. Their work focuses on building motivation, confidence and skills as a person who can have a meaningful conversation with someone who is struggling with life.

R U OK? contributes to suicide prevention efforts by encouraging  people to invest more time in their  personal relationships and building the capacity of informal support networks – friends, family and colleagues – to be alert to those around them, have a conversation if they identify signs of distress or difficulty and connect someone to appropriate support, long before they’re in crisis.

Get involved this September by:

• Starting a conversation with friends and family
• Hosting an event
• Fundraising at work or in the community
• Volunteering with the organisation

For more information, visit:
https://www.ruok.org.au/join-r-u-ok-day

Dry July is a fundraiser that encourages you to go alcohol-free in July to raise funds for people affected by cancer.

The funds you raise as part of your Dry July will provide invaluable services for cancer patients, their families and carers. Having a month off alcohol also has great health benefits.

To get involved this July:

• Sign up for the challenge to go alcohol free in July
• Ask family and friends to sponsor you
• Make a donation to someone completing Dry July
• Raise awareness on social media

For more information, visit: 
https://www.dryjuly.com/

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month is an annual initiative of Bowel Cancer Australia running throughout the month of June, to raise public awareness of a disease that claims the lives of 101 Australians every week.

 Bowel Cancer is Australia’s second deadliest cancer

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month has a positive message – saving lives through early detection – as bowel cancer is one of the most treatable types of cancer if found early.

To get involved:

• Raise awareness in the community
• Organise a fundraiser
• Volunteer with the foundation
• Make a donation
• Order an awareness pack

For more information, visit: https://www.bowelcanceraustralia.org/bowel-cancer-awareness-month

MS is a day to recognise the prevelance of MS in society. MS is the result of damage to myelin – a protective sheath surrounding nerve fibres of the central nervous system. When myelin is damaged, this interferes with messages between the brain and other parts of the body.

‘The average age of diagnosis with MS is just 30, and 3 out of 4 Australians with MS are women.’

There are 25,600 Australians living with MS currently.

Get involved this May by:

• Raising awareness on social media
• Volunteering
• Making a donation

For more information, visit:
https://kissgoodbyetoms.org/