• Health insurance
    • Types of cover:
      • Hospital cover
      • Extras cover
      • Package cover 
      • Ambulance cover
      • Dependant cover
      • GET A QUOTE
    • Lifestage cover:
      • Singles health insurance
      • Couples health insurance
      • Families health insurance
      • Sole parent health insurance
    • Why CBHS:
      • Why join CBHS
      • Testimonials & stories
      • Member-owned fund
      • Why do I need private health insurance?
    • Health insurance explained:
      • Check your eligibility
      • Switching health insurance providers
      • Waiting periods
      • Restricted services
      • Government initiatives
  • Member health
    • Health & wellbeing:
      • About health & wellbeing
      • Healthy living
      • Events and resources
      • CommBank Health Hubs
    • Get care:
      • About getting care
      • Before your hospital stay
      • Clinical concierge
      • Hospital in the home
      • Rehabilitate and recover
    • Managing your health:
      • About managing your health
      • Better Living programs
      • Services at home
      • Best Doctors
      • CSIRO programs
      • Artificial aids and healthcare aids 
    • Health services:
      • Health services A-Z
      • Common procedures
      • Find a service or hospital
  • Tools & support
    • Handy tools:
      • Tax statement
      • Member discounts
      • Forms & downloads
      • CBHS mobile app
      • CBHS news
      • Going to hospital
    • How to:
      • Pay my bill 
      • Refer a friend or family
      • How to claim
    • Find a provider:
      • Hospital search
      • Access Gap Cover
      • Choice Network provider
      • HICAPS provider search
  • Mind & body
  • Open
Member login
  • Health insurance
    • Types of cover:
      • Hospital cover
      • Extras cover
      • Package cover 
      • Ambulance cover
      • Dependant cover
    • Lifestage cover:
      • Singles health insurance
      • Couples health insurance
      • Families health insurance
      • Sole parent health insurance
    • Why CBHS:
      • Why join CBHS
      • Testimonials & stories
      • Member-owned fund
      • Why do I need private health insurance?
    • Health insurance explained:
      • Check your eligibility
      • Switching health insurance providers
      • Waiting periods
      • Restricted services
      • Government initiatives
  • Member health
    • Health & wellbeing:
      • About health & wellbeing
      • Healthy living
      • Events and resources
      • CommBank Health Hubs
    • Get care:
      • About getting care
      • Before your hospital stay
      • Clinical concierge
      • Hospital in the home
      • Rehabilitate and recover
    • Managing your health:
      • About managing your health
      • Better Living programs
      • Services at home
      • Best Doctors
      • CSIRO programs
      • Artificial aids and healthcare aids 
    • Health services:
      • Health services A-Z
      • Common procedures
      • Find a service or hospital
  • Tools & support
    • Handy tools:
      • Tax statement
      • Member discounts
      • Forms & downloads
      • CBHS mobile app
      • CBHS news
      • Going to hospital
    • How to:
      • Pay my bill 
      • Refer a friend or family
      • How to claim
    • Find a provider:
      • Hospital search
      • Access Gap Cover
      • Choice Network provider
      • HICAPS provider search
  • Mind & body
GET A QUOTE Member Login
  • Home
  • Mind & body
  • Know the risks: Australia’s most common cancers in men and women

Know the risks: Australia’s most common cancers in men and women

17.07.2019

Australia sure is a great country to live in, but unfortunately, we’re not exempt from the heartache of cancer. About half of us will receive a cancer diagnosis within our lifetime. While initiatives like CommBank’s Can4Cancer have helped fund promising cancer research breakthroughs, it’s important we protect ourselves while we wait for more prevention tactics and of course a cure. By knowing the facts about our country’s most prevalent cancers, you’re giving yourself the best chance of survival.

What are our most common cancers?

Data from Cancer in Australia 2021, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

Men
  1. Prostate
  2. Melanoma
  3. Bowel (colorectal)
  4. Lung
  5. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Women
  1. Breast
  2. Bowel (colorectal)
  3. Melanoma
  4. Lung
  5. Uterine

Be cancer-smart about the common cancers

Breast cancer
Researchers recommend limiting your alcohol intake to less than one drink a day, as even small amounts increase risk. Also, physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking all help efforts to reduce your risk of breast cancer. See more on reducing your breast cancer risk .

Prostate cancer
Ageing and family history are both key risk factors in prostate cancer. Aside from maintaining a generally healthy lifestyle, speak to your GP if you have a family history or any symptoms such as difficulty passing urine. Your GP will advise you on screening procedures.

Bowel cancer (colorectal)
New research out of the USA suggests that 34% of bowel cancer cases may be prevented through leading a healthy lifestyle. That includes not smoking, getting regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and eating well. Dietary changes to help reduce your risk include increasing your wholegrains to 90 grams a day and dairy products to 400g per day. Also, keeping your red meat intake under 500 grams (when cooked) per week and avoiding processed meat where possible can protect against bowel cancer.

Melanoma
The best way to protect yourself and your whole family from melanoma is to be sun-smart! Use shade, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats and sun-protective clothing to prevent exposure to the harsh Aussie sun. See detailed guidelines on these five skin-saving methods.

Lung cancer
Most of us know that smoking causes lung cancer, but did you know that it’s never too late to quit? Most CBHS Extras or packaged covers pay benefits towards quit smoking programs. Read more about those on our healthy living page.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
There are currently no specific recommendations on how to prevent Non-Hodgkin lymphoma. However groups with a weakened immune system, HIV or Epstein-Barr virus are at increased risk of developing this cancer of the lymphatic system.

Uterine
Being over 50 is among the risk factors for uterine cancer, but right now there are no specific ways to prevent this cancer type aside from living a healthy lifestyle in general and keeping your weight in check. To help in early detection, be aware of any unusual vaginal bleeding – the most common symptom – and see a GP if you experience this.

While there is no guaranteed way to prevent cancer yet, being aware of the risk factors and common prevention tactics can help place you in the best position to stay cancer-free. And, we can’t stress enough, if you do suspect something is not right with your body, please see your GP. Early detection gives you the best chance of successful treatment.

CBHS is proud to partner with Commonwealth Bank as the exclusive Health & Wellbeing Partner for the Can4Cancer walks in 2022. Follow us on Facebook for more cancer-smart tips.

All information contained in this article is intended for general information purposes only. The information provided should not be relied upon as medical advice and does not supersede or replace a consultation with a suitably qualified medical practitioner.

Health and wellbeing

programs & support

You Belong to More with CBHS Hospital cover:

  • Greater choice over your health options including who treats you
  • Get care at home with Hospital Substitute Treatment program
  • Free health and wellbeing programs to support your health challenges

Live your healthiest, happiest life with CBHS Extras cover:

  • Benefits for proactive health checks e.g. bone density tests, eye screenings
  • Keep up your care with telehealth and digital options
  • Save on dental and optical with CBHS Choice Network providers

See all our programs and support

You might also be interested in

Load more

Latest articles

Load more
  • Health insurance
      • Extras cover
      • Package cover 
      • Ambulance cover
      • Why join CBHS
      • Member-owned fund
  • Member health
      • Healthy living
      • About getting care
      • About managing your health
      • Health services A-Z
      • Mind & body
  • Tools & support
      • How to claim
      • Tax statement
      • Member discounts
      • Forms & downloads
      • Pay my bill 
      • Find a Provider
  • Open
  • CBHS Corporate
  • CBHS International
  • Contact us
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Disputes & Complaints
  • Provider Login

Got a question?

No problem, we're here to help.

CareyCarey
Close
  • apple app store
  • google play store
CBHS Health logo
Member Health Fund
  • Glossary
  • FAQ
  • Terms of Use
  • Fund Rules
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2022 CBHS Health.