A capacity crowd of 46,000 is to turn the Sydney Cricket Ground pink on Jane McGrath Day, raising breast cancer awareness and supporting the McGrath Foundation.
Now in its sixth year, the Pink Test is an important time to reflect on a disease that affects more than 15,000 Australians every year.
Labor partnered with the McGrath Foundation when in government to establish the Breast Care Nurses program – a network of specialist trained nurses across metropolitan and regional Australia who coordinate care for Australians experiencing breast cancer as well as provide support to their families and carers.
Since the Breast Care Nurses program commenced in 2008, the number of nurses in the network has grown to 100, providing care to thousands of women and support for the families and carers. Funding delivered by Labor in government will mean this program will continue at least until 2017.
“Today is an important reminder for all Australian women to familiarise themselves with the early breast cancer detection methods, and for women aged 50-74 who have not had a mammogram in the past two years to do so,” Shadow Health Minister Catherine King said.
“I commend founder and chairman Glenn McGrath and all those associated with the McGrath Foundation on their years of advocacy and awareness raising for breast cancer.”
Australian cancer patients now have the best survival rates in the world, although breast cancer is still the second most common cause of cancer death among Australian women.
“Appropriate resources must continue to be allocated to help Australians suffering from cancer. I also call on the government to commit additional funding for medical research to ensure Australia’s medical researchers working to find a cure for this insidious disease can continue to do so,” Ms King said.