Australian Breakthrough Cancer Study Newsletter

Welcome to the 2026 Newsletter!

2025 saw the start of the third wave of follow-up for the ABC Study, and we’d like to sincerely thank you for your contribution to the study over the past decade.

We are halfway through this latest wave of follow-up, which includes our shortest questionnaire so far. It takes just 10-15 minutes, and for those who complete it, there is the exciting opportunity to participate in our new Accelerometer Study.

An Australian first, this study allows us to contribute to the global body of knowledge on physical activity and its effect on health and wellbeing, in addition to its effect in reducing cancer risk.

In this edition of the ABC Study Newsletter:
  • We update you on current study activities, including the data we’re collecting, and provide a refresher on how the study works
  • We recap 40 years of the Cancer Epidemiology Division
  • We share information about the different communication channels we use to contact you
  • We provide an update on how ABC Study participants are contributing to research in heart disease through the ARCHIMEDES Study
  • We invite you to participate in a new study investigating how best to return genetic information to research participants
On behalf of the ABC Study team, I'd like to thank you for your critical contribution to the ABC Study. You are helping us build a high-quality resource for epidemiological research that will prevent cancer and save lives well into the future.

Best wishes,

Professor Roger Milne
Head, Cancer Epidemiology Division
Cancer Council Victoria
Our Current Wave of Follow-Up
ABC Study staff packing Accelrrometer devices to mailout
What to Expect in Follow-Up 3

More than a decade after the ABC Study began, participants continue to make an important contribution to cancer research. Find out what's involved in our third wave of follow-up, why repeated questionnaires matter, and how your contributions help researchers track health and lifestyle changes over time.
Learn more about follow-up 3 →
Thanks to the ongoing support of ABC Study participants, the study is now halfway through its third wave of follow up.
25,000 

invitations sent
12,000

completed questionnaires
7,000

physical activity recordings
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Celebrating 40 Years of Cancer Research Making a Difference

We’re celebrating 40 years of research in the Cancer Epidemiology Division by taking you through our journey and sharing some of the achievements that have helped advance cancer prevention and control. 
Read More →
Cancer Epidemiology Staff
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ABC Study Participants Help Advance Heart Disease Research

ABC Study participants are helping advance heart disease research through the ARCHIMEDES study, which is investigating cardiovascular disease risk. Thanks to the contribution of ABC Study participants, researchers have recruited 200 volunteers to help identify people at higher risk of heart attack and stroke.
Read more about the study →
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How the ABC Study Contacts You

To help you recognise genuine communication from the ABC Study at Cancer Council Victoria, we’ve listed below all the email addresses and phone numbers we use. If you're unsure whether a message is from us, you can compare it against this list and verify it's legitimate and protect yourself from spam.
How we contact you →
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Seeking Research Participants Opinions: Valuing the Return of Genomic Risk Results from Research Participation
 
Researchers at the University of Melbourne, Monash University and Garvan Institute of Medical Research need your help to understand what types of genetic information research participants would like to learn about and what types of support they value when receiving that information. This research project is seeking research participants willing to complete a short survey and make choices between different hypothetical research scenarios. This study will help the researchers learn what is important to research participants and how best to offer to return to them genetic information about risk of developing a wide variety of health conditions.
Click here to learn more →
How is your data being used?
Scientific papers are beginning to be published using data obtained from ABC participants. 
A framework for the molecular identification of CHIP for clinical research






Learn more →
 
Faecal Sample Collection for Gut Microbiome Research in a Prospective Cohort: A Pilot Study within the Australian Breakthrough Cancer Study

 

Learn more → 
Saliva-derived DNA is suitable for the detection of clonal haematopoiesis of indeterminate potential




Learn more →
 
Please keep an eye out on the ABC Study website over the coming months for more updates on how your data is being used, as more papers are published.
Have your details changed?
Please take a moment to update any of your contact details that may have recently changed, by logging in here and updating your details on the 'Personal Details' page.

If you are unable to log in, you can contact us by email: 
info@abcstudy.com.au, or phone: 1800 688 419, to update your details. Please ensure that you provide your full name and
date of birth so we can accurately update your information.
Update Your Details →
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Daffodil Day - A tradition of hope 💛
 
For 40 years, Daffodil Day has brought Australians together to support people affected by cancer and help fund vital cancer research, including the ABC Study.
 
This Daffodil Day, Thursday 20 August, you can continue to be part of that history. Whether you choose to donate, wear a daffodil or simply share the message, your support of the ABC Study and Daffodil Day helps keep vital cancer research moving forward.

Together, we can keep hope growing for generations to come.
Support Daffodil Day →
ABC Study Project Officers Volunteering on Daffodil Day