image of Crumpets beach, Portland, Victoria.

MEDIA RELEASE Portland to host free Wellbeing Day for women with cancer – for immediate release – Counterpart – a statewide service of Women’s Health Victoria that supports and informs women with cancer to live well – is partnering with Portland District Health and Barwon South Western Regional Integrated Cancer Service to organise a free

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Bowel cancer awareness month

June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.  Bowel cancer (also called colorectal cancer) is cancer of a lower part of the bowel – the colon or the rectum.  The risk of bowel cancer increases with age, and it can also be genetic. Two genetic conditions that can increase the risk are Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP) and

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Volunteers are the heart of Counterpart What better time to reflect on the importance of our volunteers than National Volunteer Week? We are lucky enough to benefit from volunteer assistance in a range of ways: volunteers provide peer support, help at our events and activities, participate in our Counterpart Advisory Group, review resources and information,

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Illustration of three friends with linked arms. The woman on the left is wearing a compression sleeve.

Lymphoedema: what you need to know March is Lymphoedema Awareness Month, so we are sharing information for people who have had treatment for cancer and may be at risk of developing this condition. What is lymphoedema? Lymphoedema is swelling (oedema) that occurs when fluid (lymph) builds up in tissues, under the skin, or sometimes more

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Women exercising

Judy Sammut OAM is an exercise instructor with a lived experience of breast cancer. She is tireless advocate for exercise after cancer, and volunteered for Counterpart for nearly 20 years. In 2013, she was awarded with our inaugral Champion award in recognition of everything she has done for women with cancer. She has kindly shared

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Graphic with Seasons greetings & Happy Holidays! in cursive writing with decorative lights in the background and Counterpart and Women's Health Victoria logos across the bottom.

We want to thank you for your support in 2023. We are looking forward to continuing to provide quality connections, support and information to women affected by cancer across Victoria in 2024. Counterpart Resource Centre hours Our Resource Centre will be closed from 5pm on the 14 December 2023 until the 15 January 2024 to

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What's new - November 2023

What's new in November, with links to support, information and other items of interest. World Pancreatic Cancer Day – 16 Nov World Pancreatic Cancer Day will be held on 16 November, during Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. Our friends at the Pancare Foundation are working with other members of the Australian Pancreatic Cancer Alliance to Light Australia Purple. From the

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What's new – September 2023

What's new in September, with links to support, information and other items of interest. Virtual Victorian Cancer Survivorship Community of Practice The Australian Cancer Survivorship Centre and the Victorian Department of Health will jointly host the Victorian Cancer Survivorship Community of Practice (COP). The October COP will be held online on 4 October, 2.00pm–4.00pm. This

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A group of past and present Counterpart volunteers at a 20th anniversary celebration.

Trish is one of the generous volunteers at Counterpart who provide peer support to other women diagnosed with cancer. She spoke at our recent birthday celebration, where she shared her reflections on Counterpart: Thank-you. It is such a privilege to be invited to speak as a part of Counterpart’s 20th birthday celebrations. I first arrived

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What's new – May 2023

What's new in May, with links to support, information and other items of interest. Communicating with doctors Cancer Council Victoria has released a free, four-part video series to help patients, families, and carers to learn key skills to better communicate with doctors and other health professionals when discussing a cancer diagnosis, treatment and on-going health

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