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Research by Professor David Roder AM from the University of South Australia highlights the huge gap in outcomes between those living in regional and remote South Australia (with a cancer diagnosis) and their metro counterparts.

The study reveals that South Australians living outside the major urban areas have poorer survival rates than those who live in the city. Shockingly, they are more likely to die within five years of diagnosis the further away from the city they live.

Professor Roder found the huge costs of travel and accommodation in the city, and the extra pressure it can place on families, can cause regional South Australians to end their cancer treatment prematurely. It can have disastrous effects on their health and seriously affect their chances of survival.

His research also highlights why Cancer Council SA’s new building is so important—it will give every South Australian every chance to survive their diagnosis, regardless of where they’re from. By having accommodation, cancer services and supports all under one roof, it will ensure that all South Australians, no matter where they live, will have the best chance of survival.

Three times cancer survivor Nancy Murdock from Berri says the lodges provided a lifeline for her and her family when they needed it.

“Staying at the lodges really is life or death for country people. If you don’t have the lodges then often you can’t afford to come to Adelaide for treatment— and if you can’t have treatment then you have no chance at all.”

Your support has been, and continues to be, vital in making visionary new projects like this possible, so we can improve people’s prognosis and save more South Australian lives.

For more information on Cancer Council SA’s new building visit 202greenhill.com.au.

Make a donation to our Autumn appeal here and show your support for the thousands of South Australians impacted by cancer.

Download the full version of The Doffodil here