STATISTICS provided by Cancer Council NSW show Dubbo has been a hotspot for the disease.
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From 2004 to 2008 the city was home to more cancer patients than Orange, Bathurst, Mudgee, Lithgow, Forbes and Parkes.
The latest figures available to the Cancer Council show 1008 people battled the disease in Dubbo in the four years, compared with 988, 873, 657, 607, 249 and 441 in the other cities and towns, respectively.
The statistics were released as residents, workers, and visitors to the city converged on Old Dubbo Gaol on Thursday for a public launch of the Cancer Council's fundraising juggernaut, Australia's Biggest Morning Tea.
Cancer Council events co-ordinator Brianna Carracher said participants included survivors, bereaved family members and people keen to play a part in the fight against cancer.
"Unfortunately, everyone in some way is touched by cancer," she said.
The 2004 to 2008 statistics show the most diagnosed cancer in Western NSW was prostate, followed by breast, melanoma, lung and colon.
Lung cancer was the biggest killer, ahead of colon, breast, prostate and cancer at an unknown site.
Ms Carracher said in the past couple of decades, inroads had been made into the number of people being diagnosed with cancer and dying from it.
"More than 60 per cent of people diagnosed with cancer in Australia will survive more than five years after diagnosis," she said.
But according to the Cancer Council, one Australian is diagnosed with cancer every five minutes, a period equal to about the length of an average tea break.
Next year it predicts 1818 people in Western NSW will be told they have cancer, with 582 of them succumbing to it.
The launch in Dubbo aimed to raise awareness of the research, prevention and support programs the Cancer Council is able to help fund using proceeds from Australia's Biggest Morning Tea.
About 700 hosts are required in the Central West to meet a fundraising target of more than $270,000.
Morning teas will be held in places such as private homes, workplaces and schools in May and June.
To register to be a host call 6937 2600 or visit www.biggestmorningtea.com.au.