He said its ratio in the West was one in 10,000 children but here it can be one in 6,000 due to cousin marriages. “The best solution was to prevent future generations from contracting this disease by early screening, he stressed. The event ‘Curing the Incurable’ was organised by the Strive Trust, a not-for-profit organisation working to improve the quality of life of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).ĭr Salman Kirmani, Genetics Specialist and Associate Professor at Agha Khan University said, “No matter how hard we try, it will be difficult to provide treatment to all. “Mum’s not even close to 60 and we have to accept that she’s not going to be here for much longer,” Mansell said.They were speaking at a gathering organised to find ways to make the expensive treatment of the disease available to everyone in Pakistan and to end it by taking preventative measures. Last weekend the whānau, who are spread out across the motu, gathered at Mansell’s whare (home) in Otaki to spend time with their 55-year-old mum, who had travelled from Tokoroa. “I wish Mum would have known what gut cancer is and identified it earlier,” he said, “but we have to accept what we have.” Mansell, a dad of two, said his mum’s issues started with a sore back and the cancer quickly revealed itself as it spread through vital organs in the stomach area. “But little things like less sugar, less alcohol, exercice, watch your diet and look for signs might help save lives.” “Like many whānau, by the time our loved ones get the diagnosis, it’s too late. “My younger sister found the Give it Up kaupapa and we have all given up drinking alcohol for the month to raise putea to support an awareness campaign. “When we heard the news about Mum’s cancer, it came as a major shock to us as a whānau,” Mansell said.

The Mansell children with their mum Tracy.

Test brother printer