Page 4965 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 26 October 2011
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outcomes. The evidence is unequivocal. Since the introduction of BreastScreen Australia, deaths from breast cancer have decreased from 31 per 100,000 in 1991 to 22 per 100,000 in 2006. In the ACT, the BreastScreen ACT service conducted more than 11,600 screens in the last financial year.
Breast cancer will, inevitably, affect someone that we know—a loved one, a friend, a neighbour, a work colleague. The awareness raising and the fundraising that take place during pink ribbon month give all of us the opportunity to be a part of finding a cure, to be a part of spreading awareness and urging vigilance. It is a chance for everyone to ensure that those affected are supported socially and emotionally during and after treatment.
Support for pink ribbon month comes from all areas of our community. On Sunday night I attended IndOz, an Indian dance and food extravaganza organised by the India-Australia Association of Canberra. During the night I was very pleased to present a cheque from IndOz to representatives of Bosom Buddies. The cheque came from the fundraising done that night.
There are still a few days of pink ribbon month remaining, for those members who have not yet taken the opportunity to consider how they might support this worthy cause.
Of course, the reality is that these are conversations that are not and cannot be confined to a month in a year. That is why the government is making the massive, historic investments that will make a practical difference to those Canberrans diagnosed with cancer—investments that mean early diagnosis, early treatment, better outcomes and better quality of life. I urge the Assembly to support this motion.
MR HANSON (Molonglo) (10.09): I thank Dr Bourke for bringing this important motion on today. It is nice that we can get together and combine as an Assembly to recognise such an important matter.
I rise today to speak on the importance of raising awareness of breast cancer in the ACT. I foreshadow that the Canberra Liberals will support both the motion and the Greens’ amendment. Pink ribbon month is an important tool for exposing and promoting the importance of breast cancer detection, prevention and treatment in our community. This is an international annual event that aims to increase awareness of the disease and raise crucial funds for research.
Breast cancer is indiscriminate. There is no reason why people are struck by this cancer. Whilst vital research has brought us valuable information on risk factors and preventive measures, we can still not predict who may be the victim of breast cancer, and when.
One in nine Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 85. The incidence of breast cancer has risen by 20 per cent in the last 10 years, and mortality rates have remained largely unchanged. Traditionally, we have thought of breast cancer as being an affliction of older women, but there is a growing awareness that breast cancer also affects younger women. Approximately 25 per cent of cancer diagnosis is for those less than 50 years of age.
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