June 24 2026

Rare Cancers Awareness Day 26 June 2026

Friday 26 June is Rare Cancers Awareness Day. A national day of recognition and support for those affected by rare and less common cancers.

Rare cancers are more common than most people think. In Australia, someone is diagnosed with a rare or less common cancer every 12 minutes – that’s 120 people every day.

For those diagnosed, it can feel particularly overwhelming, scary and lonely when they’re told they have a cancer no one has heard of or knows how to treat. Chances are, you know someone affected.

People experiencing rare cancers have difficulty getting noticed by policy and decision makers on their own but have a loud voice as a collective.

Although over 4,000 Australians are estimated to die from asbestos-related diseases each year, some asbestos-related cancers are quite rare and small in numbers. For example, mesothelioma is considered a less common cancer, solely caused by asbestos exposure, with around 700 deaths per year and a very low survival rate beyond 3 years.

This is why there needs to be greater investment into research into rare cancers and diseases to improve diagnosis, treatment and management options to lengthen survival rates.

ADDRI stands in support of Rare Cancers Australia in spreading the word this Awareness Day.

Read more about Rare Cancers Awareness Day here.

 

 

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