This Inherited Cancers Awareness Day, Inherited Cancers Australia brings 7 patient organisations together to share one important message:
Cancer can be inherited.
Start the conversation.
Explore ICAD 2026
Keep scrolling to explore the full campaign, or jump to the section most helpful for you.
Inherited Cancers Awareness Day (ICAD) is a national awareness campaign led by Inherited Cancers Australia (ICA) each year on 27 August.
For ICAD 2026, ICA brings 7 patient organisations together across breast, metastatic breast, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate, rare and upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer communities to share one important message:
Cancer can be inherited. Start the conversation.
Find out what it could mean for you, your family or someone you support.
That conversation might be about cancer in your family, symptoms you are worried about, a diagnosis, genetic testing, or questions you are not sure how to ask.
You do not need to have all the answers to begin. Start with what you know.
Talk to family if you can, or speak with a GP, genetic counsellor or support organisation.
Meet the people starting the conversation
These nine stories show that inherited cancer risk does not look the same in every family.
Some begin with family history. Others begin with persistent symptoms, a diagnosis, genetic testing, treatment options or wanting to give their family members information they did not have before. Each story is different. Each one shows how cancer can be inherited, and why starting the conversation matters.
You can also watch the full ICAD 2026 video collection on YouTube.
Annette & Naomi
Inherited Cancers Australia Community Advocates
After an ovarian cancer diagnosis led to the discovery of a BRCA pathogenic variant (gene change) in their family, many family members chose genetic testing. Annette and Naomi share how openness helped information move through the family, supported people through their decisions and gave the next generation a clearer place to begin.
Alex
Pankind Community Advocate
Pancreatic cancer affected Alex’s maternal grandfather and mum. She shares how family stories helped her recognise inherited risk, access surveillance and talk more openly with family members about what they know.
Mary
Diagnosed with inherited ovarian cancer
Ovarian Cancer Australia Community Advocate
Mary’s stage 4 ovarian cancer diagnosis came as a complete surprise. She later learned that breast cancer in her sister was relevant to her own risk. Her story shows why family health information can matter at any age.
Ross
Diagnosed with inherited prostate cancer
Prostate Cancer Foundation Australia Community Advocate
Ross was blindsided by his prostate cancer diagnosis and later discovered a BRCA2 gene change. He shares why this information mattered to his daughters and grandchildren, and why prostate cancer can have implications across the whole family.
Sarah
Diagnosed with inherited breast cancer
So Brave Community Advocate
Sarah kept seeking help for her symptoms but was told she was too young for breast cancer. She shares why younger people need to be heard, and why inherited cancer risk may be relevant even when different cancers appear across one family.
Bella
Diagnosed with inherited thyroid cancer
Rare Cancers Australia Community Advocate
Diagnosed with thyroid cancer at 16, Bella later discovered a rare PTEN gene change. She shares why persistent symptoms deserve attention, why people should keep asking questions and what it can mean to live with an exceptionally rare diagnosis.
Brigitte
Diagnosed with inherited breast cancer
MBC Action Australia Community Advocate
Brigitte was the first person in her family diagnosed with breast cancer, so inherited risk was not on her radar. Finding a BRCA1 gene change opened treatment options and raised questions that also mattered to her children and wider family.
Maryanne
Diagnosed with inherited upper GI cancer risk
Pancare Foundation Community Advocate
Maryanne lost her mum, uncle and brother to oesophageal cancer. She shares why cancer across generations need to be talked about, and encourages families affected by upper GI cancer to share what they know and seek support.
Toni
Diagnosed with inherited bowel cancer
Inherited Cancers Australia Community Advocate
Toni lives with Lynch syndrome and has had three cancers in 15 years, including early-stage bowel cancer. She shares how understanding inherited cancer risk gave her family answers, helped shape surveillance and connected her with people who understand.
Could inherited cancer risk matter to your or your family?
Knowing more about inherited cancer risk can help you make informed decisions about your health. Your personal and family history can offer important clues. Explore the information and support below to understand what may be relevant to you or your family.
- Understand inherited cancer risk
- Learn what inherited cancer risk means, which patterns in a family may be relevant, and what information can help you begin a conversation with a health professional.
- Explore your family history
- Find practical tools to record cancer in your family and help you begin conversations, including when information is incomplete or family relationships are complicated.
- Learn about genetic testing
- Understand why genetic testing may be offered, what different types of testing can tell you, and how genetic counsellors and family cancer clinics can help.
- Find personalised support
- Connect with ICA’s free Inherited Cancer Support Service, peer support, online groups and practical resources.
Find more support and information
Inherited cancer risk can be relevant across many different cancer types. Genetic information may sometimes help guide treatment, surveillance or other decisions about managing cancer risk. It may also provide important information for family members.
The organisations involved in ICAD 2026 support people living with the cancers and inherited cancer risks represented in this campaign. Many also provide information and support for family members. Explore the organisation that best matches the cancer type or information you would like to learn more about.
Inherited Cancers Australia
Supports people exploring or living with inherited cancer risk
Inherited Cancers Australia is a national charity dedicated to supporting families at risk of inherited cancers through support, education and advocacy. This includes people with a known gene change, a significant family history of cancer, or those exploring whether genetic testing may be relevant.
ICA offers genetic counsellor support, peer connection, national online groups and practical resources to help people and families understand their options.
MBC Action Australia
Supports people living with metastatic breast cancer
MBC Action Australia is a consumer-led organisation working to improve the lives and health outcomes of people living with metastatic breast cancer.
The MBC Hub is a free information and support space built by and for the metastatic breast cancer community. It brings together evidence-based information and resources about diagnosis, treatment, living well, support, family and caregivers, and planning ahead.
You’re not alone living with metastatic breast cancer.
Ovarian Cancer Australia
Supports people living with ovarian cancer
Ovarian Cancer Australia (OCA) is the leading national body for ovarian cancer support and advocacy. For more than two decades, OCA has stood alongside people affected by ovarian cancer, providing free, evidence-based specialist support from diagnosis through to end of life. OCA also advocates for the research investment, treatments and health system reform they deserve, ensuring no one faces ovarian cancer alone.
The free Teal Support Program connects people diagnosed with ovarian cancer with a specialist ovarian cancer nurse for personalised information and support during diagnosis, treatment and beyond. Ovarian Cancer Australia also has a Support and Information Helpline for people affected by ovarian cancer, their partners, family and friends.
Pancare Foundation
Supports people living with upper GI cancers
The Pancare Foundation is a leading charity committed to raising awareness, supporting Australian families and funding research for Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Cancers – pancreatic, liver, stomach, biliary and oesophageal cancers.
Through Pancare Support, specialist upper GI cancer nurses and wellbeing counsellors provide clinical, emotional and practical support to anyone affected by an upper GI cancer.
Pankind
Supports people living with pancreatic cancer
Pankind is dedicated to improving pancreatic cancer outcomes through patient support, research and advocacy. Its work aims to improve both survival and quality of life for people affected by pancreatic cancer.
Its family history information explains how pancreatic cancer in a family may affect risk, what information can be helpful to gather, and when to speak with a GP or family cancer clinic. It also includes a free Family History Checker to help people explore whether their family history may need further discussion.
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
Supports people living with prostate cancer
Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia is a national community-based organisation working across prostate cancer research, awareness and support.
The Prostate Cancer Specialist Telenursing Service provides practical and emotional support tailored to each person’s prostate cancer needs. Specialist nurses can help people understand health decisions and connect them with locally based nurses, support groups and other services.
Rare Cancers Australia
Supports people living with rare or less common cancers
Rare Cancers Australia provides personalised clinical, emotional, financial and practical support for people affected by rare and less common cancers.
Through its Patient Support Program, each person is connected with a Specialist Cancer Navigator who can help them understand the health system, find appropriate specialists and treatment options, connect with services and work through practical concerns.
So Brave
Supports young women with breast cancer
So Brave is an Australian organisation dedicated to supporting, educating and advocating for young women diagnosed with breast cancer. Its work focuses on the needs and experiences that can be distinct when breast cancer occurs at a younger age.
So Brave’s Education and Support space brings together curated resources, expert voices and community information for younger women who are newly diagnosed, living with metastatic breast cancer or moving into life after treatment.
Suggested message
27 August is Inherited Cancers Awareness Day.
Cancer can be inherited. Start the conversation.
Find out what inherited cancer risk could mean for you, your family or someone you support.
Explore the ICAD 2026 community stories, learn more about inherited cancer risk and find trusted information and support: inheritedcancers.org.au/ICAD
#ICAD2026 #CancerCanBeInherited #InheritedCancersAus
Resources for health professionals
Looking for resources to help you talk about inherited cancer risk with your patients or the people you support?
ICA’s healthcare professional page brings together information and practical tools for specialists, GPs, nurses and genetic counsellors. This includes referral guidance, patient resources, professional education, peer support referrals and a way to ask a genetic testing question on behalf of a patient.
