November 18, 2020

Cancer control agency

Congratulations to our communications manager, Mary Bradley, for being selected to share her personal insights as part of the Consumer Reference Group for the Te Aho o Te Kahu, Cancer Control Agency.

The group met in Wellington for the first time on the 17th November, with Mary joining 14 other people who have been directly affected by cancer.

Mary brings a wealth of personal experience with bowel cancer to the table and is excited about the opportunity to help inform the Agency’s work programme.

“As one of the founding members of Bowel Cancer NZ, I’ve worked hard over the past ten years, alongside others, to support people affected by bowel cancer and to co-ordinate awareness and education campaigns – while raising three boys. I’m passionate about improving cancer care in Aotearoa because we must, and can, do better,” Mary says.

I’m a grateful survivor as I was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer in 2007 when I was 28 and had a six-month-old baby. My father and I also have Lynch Syndrome; a rare inherited condition that increases the risk of getting bowel cancer and other cancers.

The Consumer Reference Group will help to identify practical, creative, person-centred solutions to the problems facing people affected by cancer, and support Te Aho o Te Kahu in improving cancer outcomes for all New Zealanders.

Read more of Mary’s story here.