Liam Willis: Gut Cancer Foundation CEO pays tribute to Nigel Latta

The Gut Cancer Foundation says author and broadcaster Nigel Latta played a vital role in raising awareness of the disease. 

The high-profile clinical psychologist has died from stomach cancer this week – he was 58. 

He was heavily involved with the Gut Cancer Foundation following his diagnosis, educating people about the symptoms and risk factors. 

Foundation CEO Liam Willis told Ryan Bridge the increased awareness means people are more likely to get themselves assessed. 

He says the earlier these cancers are detected, the better the chances of survival. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So Nigel latter has died at the age of fifty eight.
He was an author, a psychologist, a broadcaster. People loved him.
He was interparenting and healthy eating. Also became a campaigner
for the Gut Cancer Foundation. The foundation's chief executive Liam
Walls willis rather is with me now, Liam, Good morning,
Good morning Miner. Very sad lost. There will be a
lot of people aren't listening to this show who know

(00:22):
Nigel well, who've heard him on the radio, on the
seen him on the TV over the years. Very sad day.

Speaker 2 (00:29):
It's a really sub d ryne yeah, and look of
first and foremost star Hotscot to Nigel's family, to Nutley's
wife and his children who are obviously hit hardest by
this loss. But Nigel was a huge character for New
Zealand and I think the whole country good morning is
lost to him.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
What drove him to be He was very passionate and
he was very determined. What was behind that.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
I think Nigel had an incredible positivity to every thing
that he did and he really brought that to his
challenge that he faces his face with his stomach cancer
diagnosis as well, and he wanted to use the challenge
that he faced to make sure that he could help
up us. I think that's what really drove him in

(01:16):
this last year after his diagnosis particular, and he was
really really keen to ensure that we could raise the
profile of stomach cancer and make sure that people were
aware of those symptoms and risk factors and make sure
that people were giving access to the treatment that they
needed as well. So I think that's what really drove him.

Speaker 1 (01:36):
The GAT Cancer Foundation, what exactly do you do?

Speaker 2 (01:40):
Yes, So at the Gut Cancer Foundation, we support patients,
we fund research, we raise awareness into cancers of the
digestive system. So that includes stomach cancer, which was what
Nigel was diagnosed with, but also pancreas cancer, liver cancer,
bowel cancer, a sophageal cancers well, so where it's about

(02:01):
six thousand patients and so every year that are diagnosed
with one of these cancers, and unfortunately, for particularly for
cancers of the other digestive system, that the outlook and
the prognosis is really poor. So it's really important that
we play a role as a voice for that community
and advocate. But it's also incredibly important when somebody is
such profile as Nigel is so open about his journey

(02:25):
as well, because it really does help us to bring
that awareness and profile to these cancers that often aren't
talked about.

Speaker 1 (02:31):
Are these cancers preventable? What should we you know, what
if there's one thing we can take away today that
we should be doing that we weren't doing yesterday.

Speaker 2 (02:39):
Yeah, Look, I mean a lot of these cancers can
be preventable. That there are some lifestyle factors that go
into the these cancers. But I think what's really really
important is to understand your body and to know what's
You understand your body and you know when things aren't
quite right. So for example, with stomach cancer, if you
get full after reaching, if you're unexpected weight loss, if

(03:03):
you've got an naisier or bloating in your stomach, that's unusual.
What's really important is we listen to our bodies and
we don't get it checked out. Because what we know
above anything is early detection is key. And with a
lot of these cancers, the reason that the prognosis is
so poor is because the detector is so late. So
the earlier we can get these cancers detected, and that

(03:25):
means getting the symptoms checked out at your GP and
getting those tests that's needed, then the better the chances
that we can treat the cancer.

Speaker 1 (03:33):
Liam, appreciate your time this morning, Thanks for being with me.
That is Liam Willis, who's the chief excultive of the
GAT Cancer Foundation. For more from Early Edition with Ryan Bridge,
listen live to news talks. It'd be from five am weekdays,
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