February 26, 2020
Odds stacked against Maori with cancer
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A Whanganui wahine with stage 4 bowel cancer says more can be done to ensure Māori get the treatment they need.
Esther Tinirau is the face of Bowel Cancer New Zealand’s Lost 360 campaign, which calls for free bowel cancer screening to be extended to 50 to 59-year-olds and that it be available immediately for Māori.
That’s because Māori have a higher clinical incidence of developing bowel cancer early.
Ms Tinirau says Māori also have to overcome bias in the health system which means they are less likely to be offered the care they need.
Free screening is a way to get them in the system earlier.
"We need to trial a range of options for Māori to make it more accessible for us to go and ask for help when there is something our bodies are telling us isn't right. I did all the right things and I was still missed, despite tests," Ms Tinirau says.
Esther Tinirau from Ngati Ruaka.
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