The 45-year-old was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2002, more than 20 years after helping out with family home renovations in the 1970s.

Smartly dressed in a bright pink outfit, accompanied by her mother, she does not look like someone dying from cancer.

But just one month ago, the Ballarat woman was in hospital with pneumonia after her latest bout of chemotherapy.

Ms Moran skipped another treatment on Monday so she would be well enough to speak at Tuesday's Asbestos Awareness Week commemoration service.

"I have actually found it really difficult to come to these services over the years, this is the first," she said.

"The reason I came is because a few of the people I have known with mesothelioma have passed away this year.

"It's been very emotional for me to be involved today."

Ms Moran said the service, attended by "remarkable people", had been far bigger than she expected.

"There are so many remarkable people here and there are many more that couldn't make it because they are very sick or have passed away."

Ms Moran said her own "domestic" asbestos story shocked all listeners.

"Whenever anyone finds out I have cancer, and then mesothelioma, the first thing they ask me is `how were you exposed?'," she said.

"They are shocked to hear it's domestic.

"I just don't know how we get the message out there. That you don't touch it, you don't think about touching it, you don't think about thinking about touching it.

"You just leave it to the experts."

Ms Moran said her own family had no idea asbestos was dangerous.

"It was just a great product - cheap, it lasted forever and was available. People have no idea how deadly it is when it's disturbed."

Ms Moran said while her brothers and sisters had all tested negative, there was no permanent diagnosis.

"It's not today or tomorrow, it's 20 or 30 years later, and it can be kids, like me.

"And from the time you are diagnosed, until the time . . . you die, you carry that diagnosis every day."