Cancer
Minister rejects claim that lack of health targets cause early deaths
Amid criticism about the state of cancer treatment in New Zealand, the Health Minister is now having to defend the government for scrapping health targets. Audio
Feature interview: Charles Graeber
Journalist Charles Graeber explains in his book The Breakthrough: Immunotherapy and The Race to Cure Cancer how scientists have made huge leaps into understanding how to beat cancer. His book charts… Audio
A medical tattoo opens the door to an exclusive club - of radiotherapy patients
John Bluck traces the course of his treatment for cancer in a series of candid, moving, and wry observations about how his life changed because of what he experienced. Episode 2 Audio
Down the Rabbit Hole: what it's like to be diagnosed with cancer
John Bluck traces the course of his treatment for cancer in a series of candid, moving, and wry observations about how his life changed because of what he experienced. Episode 1. Audio
Melanoma rates declining by 1% a year
New Zealand's melanoma rates very rarely give cause for celebration but there's been some good news today. Despite New Zealand having some of the highest rates of melanoma in the world, kiwis in their… Audio
Hawke's Bay's Pasifika community urged to get bowel checks
Health officials in Hawke's Bay are trying to curb the high rate of bowel cancer deaths among Pasifika people by encouraging them to take the national bowel screening test when they get one in the… Audio
Big brands "turbo-charging" marketing to young people
How big brands use new digital marketing tools to create and sustain new markets for junk food, alcohol and tobacco. Professor Gerard Hastings is a renowned British marketing expert who has been a… Audio
'When I look at my children I want them to know that I've fought for something'
Women with advanced breast cancer petitioned Parliament today to fund two new drugs that would give them more time with their families.
John Zalcberg, Richard Vines: Kiwis denied life-saving drugs
NZ is lagging well behind even poor nations when it comes to funding advanced cancer drugs. Australian researcher Professor John Zalcberg and Richard Vines from Rare Cancers Australia founder are part… Audio
Cancer doctors demand Pharmac fund last-chance drugs
Two terminally ill bowel cancer patients who cannot tolerate regular chemotherapy have been denied access by drug-buyer Pharmac to an alternative life-prolonging drug that's funded in Australia and… Audio
Chemo reaction costing lives
Cancer patients who have a rare adverse reaction to chemotherapy are having to pay for alternative treatment after Pharmac rejected their applications saying they didn't come under "exceptional… Audio
Penny Bright: 'Auckland Council is responsible' for cancer
Most well known for her 11-year-long battle with Auckland Council over her rates, which she refused to pay until the council 'opened its books', Penny Bright believes Auckland Council is responsible… Video, Audio
Breast cancer survival inspires a new film
By day she's the Otago Regional Council's Senior Media Advisor - but outside of work hours Emma Schranz is producing a film a year. The University of Otago's Centre for Science Communication… Audio
NZ doesn't have access to world's best medicines, doctor says
Pharmac says out of 35 medicines funded in Australia but not in NZ, only three provide real, meaningful benefits. Cancer Society's Medical Director Chris Jackson says every oncologist he has spoken to… Video, Audio
1080 and Humans
Professor of Toxicology, Ian Shaw says 1080 doesn't cause cancer and explains the effects of 1080 on humans. Audio
Roundup: Safe or not?
A US Jury has found chemical giant Monsanto liable for causing cancer in a school groundskeeper. The man used the company's popular weedkiller Roundup for years before developing lymphoma. Audio
NZ behind in funding modern medicine – Aus oncologist
Visiting Australian oncologist John Zalcberg says New Zealand cancer patients are missing out on access to new medicines, available in other countries, because Pharmac won't fund them. Video, Audio
Bowel cancer test kit a 'lifesaver'
Older New Zealanders who are still ineligible for a free bowel cancer screening are buying their own tests, but say they shouldn't be forced to pay thousands of dollars for specialist appointments as…
Expert feature: harnessing the immune system to treat cancer
Today's expert is Ian Hermans. Ian is the head of Cancer Immunology at the Malaghan Institute. He tells us about cancer and cancer research from the immunology perspective. Audio, Gallery
Clare O'Higgins: Look Good Feel Better
It's one week in for those taking part in Dry July and the organisation benefiting from the fundraiser, Look Good Feel Better is highlighting what the money enables them to do. The charity's general… Audio