It’s the disease that’s touched nearly every Aussie family – and now the federal government has determined that anyone diagnosed with cancer should get the same high-quality treatment no matter where they live. The new 10-year Cancer Plan released yesterday aims to stop patients falling through the cracks – especially if they live in regional areas. Case in point: it took 75yo Ray Suttie 2 years to be diagnosed with prostate cancer because of a doctor shortage in his Victorian home town of Ballarat. Health Minister Mark Butler says while Australia has some of the best results for cancer patients, it’s not the case for everyone. Case in point #2: Indigenous Australians are nearly 50% more likely to die from cancer. Cancer Australia CEO Dorothy Keefe says the plan will give all Australians better access to services like preventative screening and blood tests.