MP Kiri Allan has returned home to the East Coast following nine weeks of treatment for cervical cancer.
She has been sharing her cancer journey with the public since she revealed in April that she had been diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer.
Allan is 37 years old, of Ngti Ranginui & Ngti Twharetoa, and was promoted to Cabinet soon after the last election.
Following her diagnosis, she stood down from her conservation and emergency management portfolios to take medical leave.
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Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will be ready for Kiri Allan’s return once the MP has completed her cancer treatment.
Allan has been open about her cancer treatment and has been updating members of the public about her progress via social media posts. Shes also spoken out about the disparity in survival rates for Mori whine, and has urged people to get a smear test.
Last week, she shared she was on the home stretch, hopefully following her ninth and final treatment. In the video, she said there had been a few delays due to her blood and immunity being a little low.
Hopefully this is the last week of treatment before I get to go home back to my own bed, she said in the video posted last week.
She also thanked all of the people who had been reaching out to her. Its super nice getting messages from all over the country saying kia kaha.
Her response to anyone going through a bit of a rough time themselves was kia kaha whnau.
Might be a little down one day, but there’s plenty more days to come where the sun will rise again and things get a little better.
On Wednesday, Allan posted another short video to her Facebook page showing her standing on an East Coast beach with her feet in the water, and arms raised in the air.
The caption read: Home Sweet Home. So good to be back in the centre of the universe, the MIGHTY EAST COAST.
In an earlier post where she shared the news of her diagnosis, she wrote: Ive told a few folks by now, and often the question is, is there anything I can do?. My answer now is yes. Please, please, please encourage your sisters, your mothers, your daughters, your friends please #SmearYourMea it may save your life and we need you right here.
Health services across the country have reportedly seen a surge in bookings for cervical screening after Allan spoke out about her cancer diagnosis.
In May, the Government announced up to $53 million would be allocated in this year’s Budget for an easier test for human papillomavirus (HPV), the precursor to cervical cancer.
As a result of the funding, 1.4 million eligible women may be doing the self-test at home by 2023.
At the time, Allan called the announcement life-saving and a game changer on social media.
“Home sweet home,” the MP wrote online following nine weeks of treatment for cervical cancer.
