It comes with significant emotional and financial worries. 

And it is regional women and men who are often the most affected for the burden of treatment with the bonus stress of travel. 

On page 7, Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison spoke out about her own experience with breast cancer and the state’s healthcare system. 

Earlier this year, the local politician – who is a carrier for the breast cancer gene BRCA2 – underwent a double mastectomy and reconstruction. 

The mother-of-two took to social media to share a letter she sent to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, calling on the state government to improve the inequality of healthcare between the state’s metropolitan and regional communities. 

“I want you to fix our health system,” she said. “Fund more screening for all women and education campaigns, and stop wasting billions of dollars on stadiums.”

Research conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare this year estimates that 50 per cent of people will be diagnosed with cancer by their 85^th birthday.

There is no denying that there is a need for investment in cancer research and awareness as long as this heinous disease still remains one of the top killers of Australians. 

The Cancer Institute states this year, there will be 46,112 projected new cases of cancer and 15,459 cancer deaths expected in NSW. 

For people living in remote and regional communities, accessing healthcare or promoting awareness campaign can be a challenge. 

​There isn’t the same abundance of health facilities and practitioners as the Sydney CBD.  But too often, Aussies will deny or ignore symptoms until it is too late.

All of us have palmed off a doctor’s appointment because we are too busy or too afraid of the test (or the results). 

So maybe it’s time to stop with the excuses and start the conversation that needs to happen in every home – early detection. 

It’s a conversation from mothers to daughters and fathers to sons. It’s a chat between friends, coworkers and partners. 

So let’s keep lobbying the government but also keep the chatter up. 

Early detection saves lives so we need to get off our backsides and book in with the doctor.