Inherited Cancers Australia

08/09/2026

Inherited cancer risk can affect people of any gender.

Yet research has found that male relatives were about half as likely as female relatives to have genetic testing for a gene change already identified in their family.

In this chapter of The Inherited Cancer Experience, ICA community advocates John, Damian, Ashley, Dave and David speak candidly about BRCA1, Lynch syndrome and Muir-Torre syndrome, early detection and what inherited cancer risk may mean for their families.

Knowing about inherited risk can create options for earlier detection and informed decisions.

Watch the full chapter and explore evidence-based resources at inheritedcancers.org.au/experience

07/09/2026

So wonderful to see Robyn and her fellow 2026 ACT Women’s Awards winners featured on WIN News! 💙

We’re incredibly proud to see her advocacy for people living with inherited cancer risk recognised through the Gender Equity and Social Change Award.

07/09/2026

We are incredibly proud of Robyn, our Programs and Advocacy Manager, who has won the Gender Equity and Social Change Award at the 2026 ACT Women’s Awards! 💙

It means so much to see Robyn’s advocacy for people living with inherited cancer risk recognised alongside so many incredible women creating meaningful change in their communities.

Congratulations, Robyn, and to all this year’s winners, finalists and Honour Roll inductees!

Please join us in congratulating the winners of the 2026 ACT Women's Awards!!

Ashlee Berry, Excellence in Industry Award

Robyn Smith, Gender Equity and Social Change Award

Dr Sujatha Shanmugasundaram, Lifetime Achievement Award

Katherine Berney, Minister's Impact Award

As Dr Sujatha eloquently put it: "Leadership is not measured by the title that we hold, but how we inspire others and carry ourselves as women in a leadership position."

This year we saw an impressive lineup of finalists. These Awards are a chance to recognise local women and gender-diverse people leading meaningful, lasting change through leadership, innovation, advocacy and service.

Congratulations to all finalists and this year's ACT Women's Honour Roll inductees.

To read more about the ACT Women’s Awards and the Honour Roll, visit: https://www.act.gov.au/community/honours-and-awards/act-womens-awards-and-honour-roll

And thank you so much to the sponsors of this year's event Australian Institute of Company Directors, Women with Altitude, She Shapes History, Her Smile

[Image description: Photo taken on stage of the winners of the ACT Women's Awards. They wear formal wear and smile at camera]

03/09/2026

Cancer can be part of a family story. But that story is not always complete.

Family cancer histories can be incomplete or inaccessible for many reasons. Some people in our community, including Dave, learn that they have inherited cancer risk without having access to their full family health history.

Our new evidence-based resource, Understanding Your Family History of Cancer, can help you bring what you know, what is unclear and what cannot be found out to a genetic counsellor. They can assess whether anything needs a closer look.

Explore the resource and read Dave’s story through The Inherited Cancer Experience: inheritedcancers.org.au/experience

02/09/2026

When cancer runs in a family, questions about what it may mean across generations can be deeply personal.

In chapter one of The Inherited Cancer Experience, Molly, Simone, John and Meriki share how inherited cancer risk became part of their family stories.

Talking openly within families can be difficult, but as Simone says, “Being honest is absolutely the kindest thing to do to your kids.”

With clear information and the right support, these conversations can feel a little easier.

Watch the full chapter and explore evidence-based resources, including our new guide to understanding your family history of cancer: inheritedcancers.org.au/experience

31/08/2026

Today, we’re launching The Inherited Cancer Experience, a national, lived experience-led initiative about what it can mean when cancer risk runs in a family.

It brings the complex and often invisible parts of the experience into the open and offers practical support shaped by our community.

Someone living with inherited cancer risk may recognise a feeling they have never been able to put into words. Practical resources can help them understand their options, ask questions and make decisions that feel right for them, now and over time.

The next person facing something similar will be able to hear from others who have been there, find clearer information and have somewhere to turn.

Someone outside this experience may better understand what inherited cancer risk can mean for a person and their family, and respond with greater empathy.

The more people who understand, the less invisible this experience becomes and the less alone our community can feel.

That is the heart of The Inherited Cancer Experience.

For more than a decade, ICA has supported people navigating inherited cancer risk. Those years of support and the knowledge shared by our community shaped every part of this work.

Fourteen community members generously shared their experiences on camera. Many more gave their time and insight behind the scenes, helping guide the work throughout.

Over the coming weeks, we’ll share highlights from the 10 video chapters, written stories and practical resources.

Explore The Inherited Cancer Experience in full: https://www.inheritedcancers.org.au/inherited-cancer-experience

Thank you to every community member who contributed, our production crew and Cancer Australia for making this possible.

This national initiative is funded by Cancer Australia to support the delivery of the Australian Cancer Plan and the National Framework for Genomics in Cancer Control.



David Richelle Cinema Thom

27/08/2026

Inherited Cancers Awareness Day is shaped by our community, and this day is for you 💙💚💛

Community voices are at the core of this campaign. Over the past month, 10 advocates have spoken openly about how inherited cancer risk has affected their health, their families and their lives.

To Annette, Naomi, Alex, Mary, Ross, Sarah, Bella, Brigitte, Maryanne and Toni: thank you for generously sharing your experiences and helping others feel less alone in their own.

We are also grateful to our seven partner organisations: MBC Action Australia, Ovarian Cancer Australia, Pancare Foundation, Pankind, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Rare Cancers Australia and So Brave.

Thank you to their leaders and teams for supporting ICAD, sharing this message with their communities and helping bring the experiences and needs of our community into the wider cancer conversation.

And to everyone who has watched a video, shared a post, left a comment, liked our content or started a conversation over the past month: thank you. Every action has helped this campaign reach more people.

Please keep sharing ICAD today, so more people learn that cancer can be inherited and feel supported to start the conversation.

27/08/2026

Today is Inherited Cancers Awareness Day 🧬

Across ICAD 2026, 10 community advocates and eight cancer organisations have shared one important message:

Cancer can be inherited. Start the conversation.

Today, the eight organisations have also issued a Joint Awareness Statement calling for greater recognition of inherited cancer risk across Australian cancer prevention, early detection and care.

Sarah, our CEO has also written about why this shared call matters and why awareness must be turned into action.

You can read the Joint Awareness Statement and Sarah’s article at inheritedcancers.org.au/ICAD

Share this video and help bring inherited cancer risk into more cancer conversations 💬

25/08/2026

Lynch syndrome is believed to be Australia’s most common inherited cancer risk. It has been estimated that around 1 in 280 Australians may have it, but many do not know they do.

Understanding Lynch syndrome can help people and families make sense of their cancer risk and take informed action.

For Inherited Cancers Awareness Day, Toni and ICA are helping more people recognise what Lynch syndrome could mean for them and their family.

Start a conversation, find out what inherited cancer risk could mean for you, and hear Toni share her story: inheritedcancers.org.au/ICAD

24/08/2026

Toni has had three cancers over 15 years, including early-stage bowel cancer.

Learning that Lynch syndrome was part of her family was unsettling at first. As Toni came to understand what it meant, the unknowns became a clearer plan for surveillance, risk reduction and earlier detection.

As an Inherited Cancers Australia Community Advocate, Toni is helping more people understand that knowing about inherited cancer risk can provide answers and give families practical ways to act.

For Inherited Cancers Awareness Day, Toni wants more people to know:
Cancer can be inherited. Start the conversation.

Start a conversation and learn what Lynch syndrome and inherited bowel cancer risk could mean for you and your family: inheritedcancers.org.au/ICAD