My brave and beautiful Māmā has been diagnosed with pre-cancer/DCIS and has to undergo surgery for a full mastectomy next week before it becomes invasive. Mum obviously has mixed feelings, the relief of catching it early and coming to terms with what the surgery will do to her body.

Cancer can happen to anyone. Māori women are 21 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, 30 per cent less likely to be diagnosed early and 72 per cent more likely to die from breast cancer than non-Māori. So please, get checked.