The first \u201csignificant\u201d step was lowering it to 58, \u201cas funding and access to additional colonoscopy resource becomes available,\u201d Health Minister Simeon Brown said in March.<\/p>\n
This change\u00a0came into effect in October<\/a>\u00a0for Northland, Auckland and the South Island, with the rest of the North Island to follow in March.<\/p>\n A simple at-home test for those with bowel cancer symptoms is also being introduced.<\/p>\n According to Bowel Cancer NZ, each year about 3300 New Zealanders are diagnosed with the disease, and 1200 die from it. Caught early, it is more than 90% curable.<\/p>\n \u2018It has changed my life completely\u2019<\/p>\n In February 2023, Bary told her doctor she had been having diarrhoea since Christmas, and noted other changes in her bowel movements, including going to the bathroom up to 20 times daily.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing much\u201d came from that appointment, but her symptoms kept getting worse, Bary told Bowel Cancer NZ.<\/p>\n In March, she went to A&E with severe diarrhoea and blood in her stool.<\/p>\n A colonoscopy and CT scan followed in April.<\/p>\n \u201cI was told the words nobody ever expects to hear: \u2018You have bowel cancer\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Bary had surgery at Grace Hospital. In May, she was told her cancer had spread and it was Stage 4.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were devastated.\u201d<\/p>\n A PET CT scan later that month showed further spreading.<\/p>\n She learned her cancer was considered \u201cuntreatable\u201d and her prognosis of one to five years was shortened to \u201cmonths\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has changed my life completely. Physically, emotionally, and in all the ways it touches my family.\u201d<\/p>\n She started chemotherapy in June and is focused on making memories with family and friends.<\/p>\n This year, they went to Rarotonga with friends, surprised her son with a trip to Thailand, and took a \u201cfinal\u201d trip to Fiji with extended family.<\/p>\n \u201cThese trips gave us so many laughs, tears and special memories, including seeing my daughter get engaged.\u201d<\/p>\n Bary said bowel cancer was \u201cnot just an old person\u2019s disease\u201d and could strike younger adults.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you notice changes \u2014 blood in stool, change in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, feeling [your] bowel doesn\u2019t empty \u2014 don\u2019t ignore it.<\/p>\n \u201cGet checked. Push for a colonoscopy and seek a second opinion if you\u2019re not satisfied.\u201d<\/p>\n Bowel Cancer NZ chief executive Peter Huskinson said the report showed \u201ctoo many\u201d people were told they were \u201ctoo young\u201d for bowel cancer.<\/p>\n \u201cBy the time they were diagnosed, it was advanced.\u201d<\/p>\n Huskinson said it showed major change was needed to raise awareness of symptoms and ensure people of all ages were taken seriously when seeking help.<\/p>\n![\"Kerry](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/FRFIJILHFRHW5BYJBXUM7GPHBU.jpg\")
Kerry Bary with her son, Bronson. Photo \/ Supplied<\/p>\n![\"P\u0101p\u0101moa](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/K4JSRWBU5FBINJ3CUZUEWC2DR4.jpg\")
P\u0101p\u0101moa mother Kerry Bary, third from right, was diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer last year. She is trying to spend as much quality time as she can with her family: Daughter Jessica’s fianc\u00e9 Liam (left), daughter Jessica, two-year-old granddaughter, son Bronson, husband Russell (Rusty), and daughter Courtney.<\/p>\n