Albanese Government acts to Reduce Costs of Breast Cancer Treatment

Like many Australians, breast cancer awareness is a cause close to my heart. It’s the most commonly diagnosed cancer amongst women, with around 57 Australians diagnosed every day.

Concerningly, over half of women aged 50 to 74 in Western Sydney are overdue for a mammogram.

A couple of weeks ago I held my annual Greenway Pink Ribbon morning tea in The Ponds. There our community gathered to raise funds and awareness for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and it was our most successful pink ribbon event to date.

We shared pink treats from Premium Lovely Sweets, from Kings Park, over cups of tea. We heard from the director of BreastScreen NSW, and thanks to the help of the Lions Club we raised over $3,500 for the cause.

And, we had BreastScreen NSW in attendance so guests could book their free mammograms on the spot. We did all of this because we share the same vision: to achieve zero deaths from breast cancer in Australia.

The Albanese government shares this vision too. That’s why I’m so pleased that, since 6 November, women diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer have access to new treatment through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

As the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, said, women battling metastatic cancers can pay up to $425,000 per course of treatment. Thanks to the government’s listing, these women will only have to pay a maximum of $30 per script.

Earlier this month the Government also introduced the Medicare rebate for genetic testing of Breast Cancer to assist with earlier detection.

Together with our community, businesses, volunteer organisations and government, we are collectively making a real difference to Breast Cancer awareness and bringing breast cancer deaths closer to zero.

I’m so proud to represent a community in Greenway and a government who see this as a priority.