Cancer

In Australia, 40 new cases of Cancer is diagnosed every hour or 350,000 cases per year. [1]

In women the most common form and the single largest killer within the age range of 25 – 60 is Breast Cancer. Breast cancer takers the lives of 7 women each and everyday. Breast Cancer is the most common form of cancer found in women under 40. [2]

1% of all diagnosed Breast Cancers occur in men. [3]

Men have a 1 in 3 chance of developing some form of cancer during their lives. [4]
 
Heart Attack & Stroke

The most common cause of disability in Australia is Stroke with over 40,000 cases recorded each year. [5]

For men, by the age of 40 the chances of developing a coronary heart disease increase to 1-in-2. [6]

20% of all heart attack victims do not survive to reach a hospital. 40% of victims will die within the first 12 months of having a heart attack. [7]
 
Disability

1-in-3 of all Australians will become disabled or ill for a period of more than 3 months before they reach retirement age. [8]

The largest cause of disability is illness (70% of all disability). [9]

[1] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Cancer in Australia 1998

[2] The Garvan Institute of Medical Research 1997

[3] The Cancer Council of Australia, 2006

[4] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Cancer in Australia 1999

[5] Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Cancer in Australia 1998

[6] Heart, Stroke and Vascular Diseases, Australian Facts 2001

[7] National Heart Foundation Statistics, Australian Facts highlights 2001

[8] Information obtained from Institute of Actuaries of Australia 2000

[9] National Centre for Monitoring Cardiovascular Disease, May 1999