With over 200 known types of cancer, reaching a world without cancer is not a small task but at Australian Cancer Research Foundation (ACRF), we believe it is possible.
That is why we continuously fund the technology, equipment and infrastructure needed to develop better prevention, earlier detection and more effective treatment across all cancer types.
The good news is, you don’t have to be a scientist to advance cancer research, there are many ways you can help. Read on to learn how you can help cancer research.
There are four types and four areas of cancer research.
Types of cancer research include:
Areas of cancer research include:
Research with the aim of developing new and improved cancer therapies would start with researchers exploring why a body’s natural system is not able to prevent the growth of cancerous cells. Our bodies all have an inbuilt defence mechanism that repairs damage to our cell DNA or forces the cell to die, if the damage is too great. Researchers work to discover what function within an individual cell’s DNA is under or overachieving to allow cancer cells to form, grow and multiply.
Once the why is understood, researchers look for ways to rectify these failures of the body’s defence system. This is not an easy task as there are many variables. While healthy cells replicate themselves exactly, each division of a cancer cell brings about new changes. This means that a treatment may not work on all cells within the same cancer.
However, cancer researchers are committed, they are creative, they are patient and they are resilient, and breakthroughs are made. These breakthroughs often lead to potential treatments.
Once a potential treatment has been developed a clinical trial is performed with the help of people with cancer, who volunteer to trial the new treatment.
If the clinical trial results prove that the new treatment is safe and effective, it may become part of the standard treatment regime for people with cancer.
There are many ways that you can donate to charity to help put an end to cancer. Many of our supporters choose to host events, or take on challenging feats – but for others, a simple giving option works best.
To learn more about the ways you can get involved with ACRF go to acrf.com.au/get-involved.
Since 1984, thanks to our generous supporters, we’ve awarded 78 grants totalling over $165 million to 42 research institutions who have developed some of the most incredible and ground-breaking advancements in cancer research and treatment including:
At ACRF, our mission is to reach a world without cancer. All donations go towards helping cancer researchers improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all types of cancer.
If you would like to make a donation, the giving options are listed below:
Because of the generosity of people like you, we’ve helped the discovery and creation of large machines and small vaccines. Discoveries that help doctors diagnose cancer quickly and personalise treatments making them more effective.
At ACRF, we believe that together we can reach a world without cancer.
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