June 24, 2024
Breast cancer screen offers precious chance
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A Māori breast cancer survivor says Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson’s early detection of the disease shows why regular checkups are so important.
Māori women are 35 per cent more likely to be contract breast cancer, and 33 per cent more likely to die of it than non-Māori.
Ms Davidson will take leave at the end of the week to start treatment including a partial mastectomy.
Matakana Island resident Kirihi Murray says her own cancer was picked up by the national breast sceeening programme on Christmase Eve 2020.
” When you say the word cancer, straight away your mind goes to death and all the scary things. I just want to encourage other women to get out there and have their mammograms, have their check ups and whatever else they need to do because life is so special, so precious,” she says.
Kirihi Murray says that early detection, healthcare, and whānau support is what got her through.