Throughout September, the Gut Cancer Foundation worked with Dr Karyn Paringatai to highlight the stomach cancer inequities faced by Māori, and the importance of everyone understanding their whakapapa (family history) in catching stomach cancer early.
Throughout September, the Gut Cancer Foundation worked with Dr Karyn Paringatai to highlight the stomach cancer inequities faced by Māori, and the importance of everyone understanding their whakapapa (family history) in catching stomach cancer early.
Hereditary Diffuse Stomach Cancer caused by a mutation in the CDH1 gene is a rare inherited condition associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer. New Zealand has a disproportionately large number of stomach cancer diagnoses because the CDH1 gene has been found to be carried in a number of Māori whānau. In 1997 University of Otago geneticists discovered a hereditary mutation in the CDH1 gene was responsible for an unusually high number of cases of diffuse gastric cancer in The McLeod whānau – of which musician Stan Walker is a member.
Dr Paringatai is leading a study on the life-saving benefits of reconnecting with whānau and whakapapa. As part of our Shine A Light campaign, Dr Paraingatai has received fantastic coverage of her work and has been able to raise vital awareness of this under-represented issue. You can read and listen to Dr Patingatai’s coverage here:
NZ Herald/ Otago Daily Times
Stuff.co.nz/ Sunday Star Times
RNZ – Mapuna
Te Upoko O Te Ika (Te Reo)
Sunlive
Click here for more information about stomach cancer.