About  100,000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed and around 40,000 Australians die from cancer each year. The cancer burden is particularly great for cancer patients living in rural areas, who are up to three times more likely to die from some cancers than people living in metropolitan areas within five years of being diagnosed.

Julia Gillard and Labor are committed to better prevention, treatment and research into cancer through major investments to build a world class cancer system. The Government has already invested over $2.3 billion in fighting cancer, including:

• Providing $526 million in infrastructure funding to build two integrated cancer centres in Sydney and Melbourne, that will provide state-of-the-art cancer treatment combined with cutting edge research.

• Establishing a network of 20 new and enhanced regional cancer centres across Australia, as part of a $560 million investment to provide access to vital cancer services including radiotherapy and chemotherapy much closer to home.

• Upgrading BreastScreen Australia’s national network to state of the art digital mammography equipment to screen women for breast cancer.

• Investing $70 million to expand the Garvan St Vincent’s Cancer Centre in Sydney, which will focus on research excellence in cancer care.

• Supporting up to two dedicated prostate cancer research centres in Melbourne and Brisbane and a children’s cancer centre in Adelaide.

• Funded the McGrath Foundation $12 million to train, recruit and employ 44 breast cancer nurses.

• Providing financial support for women who require external breast prostheses as a result of breast cancer.