Ms Ryan wants the government to give more money to the sector, saying it was "so wrong" it didn't fund the national foundation.She pointed to the recent announcement of $150 million in funding for Australian researchers and companies to help NASA's mission to the moon and Mars.Women are being urged to get their breasts screened regularly. She's gone through a double mastectomy and had her left lung removed but has been told it's too late to stop the cancer.
Her other advice included making sure everyone - including men - got checked and were aware of their family's breast cancer history. Four of her aunts overseas died of breast cancer but word didn't reach her family until after her diagnosis. The data has promoted calls for extra funding, with the National Breast Cancer Foundation community-funded and receiving no government support.
Researcher Rohan Bythell-Douglas, who receives funding from the foundation, said he would like to see more money put into the sector.