Colon cancer: A Kiwi killer

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Wed, 29 Jun 2011 7:00p.m.

The public waiting list for a colonoscopy is up to a year long

The public waiting list for a colonoscopy is up to a year long

A few weeks ago, Campbell Live brought you an interview with former NZRU board member Chris Doig who is dying from bowel cancer.

Chris spoke out in the hope others with symptoms or a family history would see their GPs for screening and early prevention.

But many of you wrote to us saying you couldn't afford to go private and the public waiting list for a colonoscopy is up to a year long.

So why isn't there a national screening programme for a disease that kills more patients in New Zealand every year than breast and prostate cancer combined?

And are people dying waiting for public screening?

Watch Kate King's report.

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Comments

18 Jul 2011 02:07p.m.

Craig wrote:

Well done Gail and Maren oh and Max the cat

30 Jun 2011 03:54p.m.

Shaun wrote:

I'm 33, a father of 3 little kids and just went on the waiting list for a colonscopy as of yesterday, prior to seeing this on Campbell Live. I was aware there was a wait, but didn't realise it was so long. I'm now faced with trying to find the money needed to get it done privately. As a low income earner and sole provider for my family, it will be difficult but what can you do? It's a scary enough thought without having to spend a year in uncertainty.

30 Jun 2011 09:26a.m.

ann Jarkiewicz wrote:

I would like to compliment TV3 on John Campbell's live report on bowel cancer. I am a survivor of 40yrs and do implore that bowel screening be given to all as it is essential to be early with diagnosing the disease, and to have a colonoscopy

30 Jun 2011 08:44a.m.

Trudy Evans wrote:

Why are we always an ambulance at the bottom of a cliff? Should we not be asking WHY are these cancers occuring in the first place? Have heard that Finland introduced a compulsory level of selenium into its bread a few years ago and its health bill has had a steady decline since. Can anyone check if this is true? Is our food source only as good as the soil it is grown in?

29 Jun 2011 10:16p.m.

mandar wrote:

Hey john... there is quite a simple answer to this. my father died of colon cancer about 3 years back. did a bit of research on the free government stat websites and also got some stats emailed to me. the age at which MOST people with colon cancer die is way higher ie post retirement, therefore i am assuming there are no good to the economy. also if you get them fixed up or anything like that they are not going to be of any economic benefit. Colon cancer and breast cancer is unlike, people can head back into the workforce as most are diagnosed quite young, I completely forgot about this, until you brought this up . recommend a little of numbers in your research...