Simeon Brown: Health Minister on the new reports indicating cancer diagnosis numbers set to skyrocket

The Health Minister says predictions cancer diagnoses will increase isn't cause for panic. 

A new report has found the number's likely to double in the next two decades. 

Simeon Brown says much of that will be down to the ageing population and general population growth.

He says that should still prompt Government action. 

"We have to continue to invest, to ensure that we have more access to cancer treatments, cancer medicines, diagnoses - all of the things that this report has highlighted."

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
The new report from the Cancer Control Agency reckons the
number of people diagnosed in this country with cancer is
going to double in the next two decades. More than
half of these cases, more than half completely preventable if
people would just eat healthier, exercise more, stop drinking and
put down the fags. Health Minister Simeon Brown is with

(00:20):
me now, evening, Minister, good evening. So in terms of
the increase, is this because we're going to have more
people therefore we'll have more people being diagnosed or is
the rate actually going to increase?

Speaker 2 (00:31):
So if you look at the incident's incident rate, it's
effectively that has flatlined over the last twenty years. If
you look at the report and actually slightly decreased. What
we've got, though, is we've got an aging population and
a growing population. So this increase in the number of
cancer diagnoses is primarily being driven by a growing elderly
population and also a growing population. That's what's driving the increase,

(00:55):
and that's why we have to continue to invest to
ensure that we have more access to cancer treatments, cancer medicines,
diagnoses and all of the things that this report is highlighted.

Speaker 1 (01:05):
Right, So it's not like there's a whole bunch of
new scary cancers on the horizon around the corner.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
No, not at all. That's not what that report is saying.
Report is very clearly saying that as we have an
aging population and a growing population, there's going to be
more people getting more people are getting cancer, but the
actual incident rate isn't what's driving that increase. And so
as a government, we're very focused on making sure expanding
access to cancer medicines, expanding access to testing, diagnoses, and

(01:33):
all of those treatments that are required so that people
can get that access that they need.

Speaker 1 (01:37):
Half the cases are preventable smoking, eating badly, not exercising,
drinking booze, and yet we still do it.

Speaker 2 (01:46):
Well, look, at the end of the day, people make choices.
But I think what this report highlights is the impact
of people's choices, and people do need to take element
of personal responsibility, and so I think it does highlight
the importance of you know, of all of those all
of those factors, and the importance and moderation. But look, ultimately,
people people do make choices in their day to day lives.

(02:08):
So I'm not here to judge people's individual choices. But
it's also really important that we do highlight that people
are aware of that and obviously they can then make
decisions as to how they live their lives in order
to live a healthier life and to produce their own
risk of contracting cancer.

Speaker 1 (02:24):
Do you have it? Do you personally think about do
you worry about getting cancer? I mean you're not a
big drinker, a smoker, or you know you're not going
through KFC drive through every second day, are you, Minister?

Speaker 2 (02:35):
No, not at all, not at all. But look, I mean,
as the Minister of Health, I've been in the role
now for you know, ten eleven months. I must say
my own mortality is something I think a lot more
about them than I did in previous roles because of
obviously the topics. But look, cancer is a really important
issue for so many New Zealanders. Everyone knows someone who's

(02:56):
either been diagnosed, or they've lost a loved one, or
they maybe may going through that need themselves. What's important
as the government is that we are really focused on
improving cancer outcomes. The report does highlight that we are
seeing improved outcomes here in New Zealand, though we have
a lot more work to do.

Speaker 1 (03:14):
We certainly do. Minister appreciate your time tonight. Thank you,
Simmy and Brown the Health Minister. For more from Heather
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