Mr Coulton said current redevelopment work at the hospital precinct presented "an opportune window" for the installation of a PET-CT scanner and linear accelerator.

He said the specialist machines would give country people equitable access to medical technology currently only available at major centres located long distances from western and far western NSW.

"PET-CT scanning would allow tumours to be identified at an early stage before they become life threatening," Mr Coulton.

"A linear accelerator would allow people from the west to receive radiation treatment closer to home.

"PET-CT technology could also be used to monitor patients as their cancer treatment continued."

Mr Coulton estimated $60 million would be needed to build a cancer centre at Dubbo.

He would be seeking a combination of state and federal money.

"Incorporating a cancer centre into the present hospital redevelopment would be $15 million cheaper than building a separate stand-alone facility," Mr Coulton said.

"It makes economic sense to act now."

Mr Coulton said western NSW "still had huge problems" with lower life expectancy, particularly in Aboriginal communities.

He said Dubbo was a natural hub geographically and the city had excellent doctors with the expertise to operate a specialist cancer centre.

"This is a not a pipe dream," Mr Coulton said.

"A cancer centre can become a reality in Dubbo but it will not be easy to pull off.

"Health is the purvey of the state government and a cancer centre would need a significant federal funding contribution.

"I am hoping in the context of an election campaign that there would be some funds available that are a little more discretionary.

"I am seeking support from colleagues in the government and have already spoken to the Minister for Regional Health Fiona Nash and the office of the Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.

"In the not too distant future I hope Fiona Nash will be able to come to Dubbo to talk about the need for a cancer centre."

That wish was shared by West Dubbo Rotarians Lyn Smith, Lance Murphy, Rob Pfeiffer and Neil Sharkey who met with Mr Coulton on Thursday.

Ms Smith said the meeting was also attended by medical oncologist Dr Florian Honeyball and specialist Dr Colin McClintock.

"The Rotary Club of West Dubbo wants to make sure a government-funded cancer centre is put into the next stage of redevelopment at Dubbo Hospital," she said.

"It is something we are prepared to fight for and it is wonderful to have Mark Coulton onside.

"There is a need to address the disparity of health outcomes between lower and higher socioeconomic status groups and the gap between Aboriginal health outcomes and those of the wider community."

Ms Smith said Rotarians hoped to be able to use a new DVD developed by Dubbo medical students to share emotive stories about country people seeking medical treatment who faced the expense, emotional trauma and dislocation of travelling to Sydney for treatment.

"These human stories are important when you are trying to explain therealities of life for people living in western NSW," she said.