When the Weekly first shared Jack Davis’ story in 2017, the Tākaka father-of-four was fighting for his life. With a terminal cancer diagnosis and time running out, Jack and his wife Sally-Anne were desperately fundraising for an extremely expensive immunotherapy treatment that would eventually set them back $200,000.
Now, against all odds, Jack sits smiling in their tranquil Golden Bay home, still processing the unthinkable – for now, he’s been given the all-clear.
“We still can’t quite believe it,” says the former carpenter, 57.
“We haven’t even celebrated properly yet because we can’t quite get our heads around it.
Their disbelief is understandable. Jack has Lynch syndrome, a rare inherited genetic condition that significantly increases the risk of colorectal cancer and, in some cases, head and neck cancer.
In 2014, Jack was diagnosed with throat cancer, and underwent chemotherapy and radiation. In late 2015, he got the devastating news that he also had bowel cancer. Genetic testing subsequently confirmed Lynch syndrome. Through crowdfunding and cashing in their KiwiSaver, the couple raised enough money to start life-saving Keytruda treatment in 2017, which remains unfunded in New Zealand.
(Credit: Carrie Dobbs.)
Fighting for lifesaving treatment
“Our friends and communities have been incredible,” says early childhood educator Sally-Anne, 52.
“Their help was literally lifesaving.”
For two years, Jack received Keytruda infusions every three weeks. The treatment stabilised his disease and reduced tumour activity. Then, in September 2019, the money ran out. When treatment stopped, scans showed the bowel cancer had begun progressing again.
A new cancer, a new battle
In 2020, Jack was diagnosed with a new aggressive cancer in his tongue and tonsils. He underwent a brutal 16-hour “Frankenstein-style” surgery that removed and reattached his tongue, leaving him on a liquid-only diet for life.
Still, the Davis family refused to give up. Fuelled by humour and creativity, they launched a cheeky fundraising calendar featuring Jack’s bare butt.
“We thought, let’s talk openly about bowel cancer,” says Sally-Anne.
“Let’s get rid of the embarrassment and make it funny.”
A second chance at treatment
In February 2021, they had the funds to restart Keytruda treatments every six weeks rather than every three weeks. Scans confirmed Jack was responding well with his tumours shrinking.
Alongside medical treatments, Jack also used cannabis oil to help manage his pain, appetite and overall wellbeing. While Jack is convinced cannabis oil has been beneficial for him, it’s his family who’ve had the biggest impact on his cancer journey.
The couple with Aimee-Anne’s baby girl Estella.
Leaning on each other
“I call Sally-Anne my leg,” Jack laughs, gently squeezing his wife’s hand.
“Without her, I’d fall over. Even in the darkest times, my goal was to make her laugh every day.”
He’s also brimming with pride for his children. Aimee-Anne, 28, runs a beauty business, Thomas, 29, is a builder managing multimillion-dollar projects, while Poppy, 17, and Hunter, 15, live happy, typical teenage lives. They’re a resilient bunch, but Jack admits it has taken a toll on them all.
The weight of not being able to provide
“I’m a traditional guy and not being able to provide for the family was belittling,” he shares.
“Hunter, our youngest, has known me with cancer for his whole life.”
The sinister shadow of Lynch syndrome still hangs over them. Aimee-Anne, who tested positive for the gene in 2017, is regularly monitored. For now, Thomas has chosen not to test and as Poppy approaches 18, the age when at-risk individuals are generally eligible to test, she’ll make the choice for herself.
Family remains Jack’s greatest motivation and now there’s a new generation to love with the arrival of his first grandchild, Estella Mae Rose, in December 2025.
In 2017 with their kids (clockwise from left) Aimee-Anne, Thomas, Hunter and Poppy. (Credit: Carrie Dobbs.)
A dream he never thought he’d see
“Becoming a grandad is a dream come true,” he enthuses.
“I never believed I would see that day.”
Jack’s final Keytruda infusion was in March 2023, when treatment stopped once again due to cost. Monitoring throughout 2024 and 2025 showed the disease was stable. Then in September 2025, while travelling to Christchurch for Aimee-Anne’s baby shower, he received an email confirming his most recent scans showed no active cancer, with remaining nodules believed to be scar tissue.
Celebrating the win
While Lynch syndrome means the cancer could return, for now, Jack and Sally-Anne are taking this as a win.
“As soon as we got home from the baby shower, we called the doctor,” Jack recalls.
“She confirmed the words we had dreamed of hearing for so long: ‘Yes, Jack, you are cancer-free.’”
Sally-Anne remembers, “Back in 2017, we didn’t think Jack would reach 50 years old and now we’re grandparents. The cancer journey has a happy ending for the time being.”
His eye shining with emotion, Jack continues, “I’ve had this plague hanging over me for more than a decade and now I can finally see the light.”
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