2 weeks Ago By Shane Te Pou
THREE KEY FACTS Health Minister Simeon Brown has announced lowering the screening age for bowel cancer from 60 to 58 for all Kiwis and canning plans to lower the age for Māori and Pacific men to 50. The announcement has drawn the ire of those dedicated to fighting the disease, given Christopher Luxon’s campaign promise to match Australia’s for bowel cancer screening protocol. NZ has one of the highest rates of bowel cancer in the world - more than 3000 people are diagnosed each year and more than 1200 will die from the disease.
The last couple of years have been tough for our hapū. When our mother passed in her 80s, we were, of course, sad, but Mum lived a good, long life. In the last two years though I’ve lost a sister , a brother and cousins who have died far too young.
Our culture helps us to recognise that death is a part of the cycle of life. But I am tired of burying my people before their time..
