Cancer information consultant Kate Aignar said Canberra men had a one in three chance of developing cancer while women had a one in four chance of getting the disease before the age of 75. This was a lower rate than in other states but an ageing population would still need more cancer services.

''[They need] to ensure that services grow with the growing demand and anyone diagnosed with cancer has timely access to cancer services in the ACT,'' she said.

The Cancer Council will mark World Cancer Day today with a presentation at Canberra Hospital.

''It's about making people aware of what a big disease cancer is and the impact it has on society,'' Ms Aignar said.

Health Minister Katy Gallagher said the territory was building its cancer services but acknowledged some patients would have to wait or travel interstate for treatment.

''Cancer's growing every year and we expect it will keep growing as the ageing of the population moves forward,'' she said.

''I'm not sure any health system can say we can always provide you with treatment in exactly the right time, in the right place, but luckily we have close relationships with NSW and Victoria if we need to use their services.''

Ms Gallagher said the Government would consider fast-tracking a fourth linear accelerator planned for 2011-12 to help treat cancer patients in the territory.

Canberra Hospital's director of radiation oncology, Hany Elsaleh, said there was huge demand for the department's services. ''I've been here 212 years and in that time the demand for services has grown 30 per cent a year,'' he said.

Dr Elsaleh said a new brachytherapy, or prostate treatment program, would begin in June or July and another program offering specialised brain cancer treatment was also on the cards.

Patients have to travel interstate to receive the two treatments at the moment. Dr Elsaleh said the department had been able to recruit more staff, from administrators to medical specialists, to help ease demand.

''Before I came here there were 3.6 radiation oncologists, now we have seven radiation oncologists. I suppose in some way increased demand is met with increased supply but we're still not quite there.''

The Cancer Council will mark World Cancer Day with a presentation by Professor Ray Lowenthal, Snake Oil, Coffee Enemas and Other Nostrums for Cancer a Recent History of Cancer Quackery in Australia, at Canberra Hospital Auditorium today. The presentation begins at 6.30pm and entry is free.