Bowel cancer survivor
Chelsea Halliwell, the organiser of the campaign and a Bowel
Cancer NZ ambassador, says young New Zealanders are still
slipping through the cracks of a severely underfunded health
system.
Halliwell says, “I am
absolutely devastated that we are still hearing of young
people like Jo McKenzie-McLean, 43 and Hope Benns 42 who,
despite seeking help for their bowel cancer symptoms, were
turned down for diagnostic bowel screening because they were
considered too young."
Professor Frank
Frizelle, a Bowel Cancer NZ medical advisor says, “Bowel
cancer is increasingly prevalent in younger people. In New
Zealand, research has shown that among patients aged under