Cancer prevention
It may surprise you to learn that at least one in three cancer cases are preventable and the number of cancer deaths could be reduced significantly by choosing to live a cancer smart healthy lifestyle.

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

There are some simple steps you can take to minimise your cancer risk. Click on the following link to see the seven steps to reducing your risk: Cancer smart lifestyle fact sheets

Click read more below for information on early detection and screening programs.

General advice on early detection
Treatment can be more effective when cancer is found early. Keep an eye out for any unusual changes to your body, such as:
• Lumpiness or a thickened area in your breasts, any changes in the shape or colour of your breasts, unusual nipple discharge, a nipple that turns inwards (if it hasn’t always been that way) or any unusual pain;
• A lump in your neck, armpit or anywhere else in the body;
• Sores or ulcers that don’t heal;
• Coughs or hoarseness that won’t go away or coughing up blood;
• Changes in toilet habits that last more than two weeks and/or blood in a bowel motion;
• New moles or skin spots, or ones that have changed shape, size or colour, or that bleed;
• Unusual vaginal discharge or bleeding; and
• Unexplained weight loss or gain.

If you notice any changes, please see your doctor immediately. For more information click on link:
http://www.cancer.org.au/File/HealthProfessionals/Factsheets/FS_EarlyDetect_Breast.pdf

Screening programs
Remember there are free screening programs available for breast cancer, cervical cancer and bowel cancer. National screening programs are available in Australia. Click here to see whether you are eligible.

These programs are available free of charge to people whom there is evidence the screening test can find a cancer at a stage when treatment is more effective.
The aim of screening programs is to pick up very early cancers in healthy individuals who do not have symptoms. Click on link for more information: Screening programs

For more information on any of the above please call Cancer Council NT on 08 8927 4888 or the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20