WHAT WAS CLAIMED

A billboard says one in two Australians currently have cancer.

OUR VERDICT

False. The billboard says one in two Australians will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85.

AAP FACTCHECK – A charity billboard that says one in two people will get cancer by the age of 85 is being used to falsely claim that half of all Australians already have the disease.

This is despite text on the billboard stating the “one in two” figure relates to diagnoses up to the age of 85.

The claim on X was made by Nicola Charles, a former Australian TV actor and senate candidate who has posted health misinformation before on social media, including false claims about COVID-19 vaccines.

“BREAKING: Public signage in Melbourne now confirming 50% of all Australian’s [sic] now have Cancer,” Ms Charles wrote on October 16.

“Wonder why?”

Ms Charles’ post included a photo of a billboard poster depicting two people embracing and the slogan: “1 in 2 is too many.”

The billboard is part of a campaign by the research and advocacy charity Cancer Council Victoria.

The billboard uses the slogan: “1 in 2 is too many.”

In a smaller font below, it reads: “1 in 2 of us will be diagnosed with cancer by age 85.”

The billboard makes no reference to Ms Charles’ claim that 50 per cent of Australians currently have cancer.

Professor Sue Evans, from Cancer Council Victoria, told AAP FactCheck the statistic that one in two people will be diagnosed with cancer by the age of 85 came from 2022 data supplied by...

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