When cancer touches your life, support should be close at hand
Help fund life-saving cancer research and essential support for Queenslanders like Terri.
Queensland has the highest skin cancer rates in the world.
2 in 3 of us will be diagnosed with skin cancer by age 70; and every year, more than 4,200 Queenslanders are told they have melanoma.
That’s why Cancer Council Queensland delivers sun safety programs across the state, supplying shade structures and education to schools, early learning centres and community groups. But prevention is only one part of the story.
When someone receives a cancer diagnosis, especially in rural or regional Queensland, accessing treatment can mean travelling hundreds or even thousands of kilometres to a major city like Brisbane.
Terri’s story
Terri was just 35 when she was diagnosed with stage 3 melanoma. A mum of three young children, she had more than 10 surgeries and years of ongoing treatment. While she sometimes used telehealth, she often needed to travel from Mount Isa to Brisbane for specialist appointments and scans.
Each trip meant organising childcare, preparing the house, taking time off work, hiring a wheelchair, arranging accommodation, and covering the cost of meals, transport and flights.
“It wasn’t just the emotional toll. It was the logistics, the travel, the cost. And she still had to be a mum through it all,” said her sister, Kara.
This tax time, your donation can help ease that burden.
Cancer Council Queensland research shows that over 13,000 people in rural and regional areas will be diagnosed with cancer in 2025 — and without local access to specialist care, many must travel to cities like Brisbane. These barriers contribute to a 44% lower five-year survival rate compared to those in metro areas. Thanks to donations last financial year, Cancer Council Queensland was able to provide:
25,063 nights of accommodation
12,022 transport trips
covering over 95,000km — helping people reach treatment and hospitals safely.
Emotional, financial, and practical support
including counselling and the 13 11 20 helpline services
These services support people who must leave their homes to access cancer care in major cities. They can stay close to treatment centres and use transport services to get to hospital appointments, taking pressure off both the patient and their family.
We’re on the brink of a breakthrough
Every donation powers local research with a global impact like Dr Mathias Seviiri’s work to uncover why some people don’t respond to melanoma treatment. This cutting-edge genetic research could help identify those at highest risk and lead to better ways to prevent and treat disease.
No Queenslander should face cancer alone.
Your donation will:
- Fund cutting-edge local cancer research
- Support sun safety education and skin checks
- Help rural families access treatment with less stress
And donations over $2 made before June 30 are tax-deductible.
