Gallagher's $20m for new cancer unit hits home

Her father died of lung cancer in 1995. Ten years later to the day, she lost her mum to peritoneal cancer. Her grandmother, uncle and other family members have succumbed to the disease, and as Health Minister, Ms Gallagher is all too aware that each year, 1300 Canberrans will be diagnosed.

Today Ms Gallagher will unveil a $20 million cancer package election policy aimed at both better supporting ACT cancer patients but also tackling the disease head-on through targeted research.

If re-elected, ACT Labor will provide an additional $17 million over the next four years for outpatient services at the new Canberra Region Cancer Centre which will provide for at least 30 new nurses and four new specialist cancer doctors.

The $44.6 million centre - jointly funded by the federal Labor government - is set to open late next year and will provide integrated support and treatment services for all those diagnosed with the disease.

An extra $1.3 million will be used to expand lymphoedema services - a common and difficult swelling condition often endured by cancer patients when their lymphatic drainage system is compromised.

Two new physiotherapists and a doctor will be added to existing lymphoedema services at Calvary Hospital, which include monthly clinics, physiotherapy, education in the care of affected limbs and compression garments, nutritional advice and counselling. These services will be expanded to cope with increasing demand.

A further $1.5 million will go towards a new partnership with the Australian National University to support the establishment of a high-profile Centenary Chair in Cancer Research at John Curtin School of Medical Research.

Announced as part of Ms Gallagher's education platform, the chair will be closely linked with the Canberra Region Cancer Centre to increase collaboration between clinicians and researchers.

The ANU has agreed to invest $5 million of its own money towards the post, with the school's acting director, Professor Chris Parish, saying the Centenary Chair had huge potential to build on the school's ''proud history of cancer research'' and potentially contribute to new therapies for Australia's biggest killer.

Professor Parish said the ANU would undertake an extensive national and international search ''to ensure that a researcher of the highest quality is recruited to the position''.

The substantial funds involved would allow the chair to attract a dedicated team of researchers to work out of the school.

Ms Gallagher said it would be incredible to see crucial new discoveries made in Canberra.

''Nobody goes through life these days without personally being affected by cancer. We need to, and we want to, do more,'' she said.

''In Canberra we have an amazing opportunity to get on the front foot with a regional centre of cancer treatment excellence and world-class research capacity at the John Curtin School.''

While the bulk of the cancer package money was directed at immediate improvements to patient care, Ms Gallagher said she wanted to look to the future.

''I'd love to see some of the best cancer researchers in the world attracted to come and work in Canberra because of the facilities and services we have here. I'd certainly love to end any notion that Canberra is a hardship post, and most of all I would love to see specific advances and discoveries being produced locally to combat this horrendous disease.''

Across the nation, 115,000 Australians were diagnosed with cancer last year. More than 44,000 died. One in three Australians will be diagnosed before they reach the age of 75, and 19 per cent of the health system's budget is spent on cancer diagnoses, treatment and care.