OPINION: Of all the topics we've covered on Paddy Gower Has Issues, this one is the closest to my heart.
It's about cancer.
Cancer sucks. It sucks when you have it and it sucks to watch someone you love very much dying from it.
My mum, Joan Gower, died of cancer. I still think about her all the time.
I still think about those three-hour car rides from New Plymouth to Palmerston North for her treatment.
And I still think there's more we should be able to do as a country to make the cancer journey easier, smoother, less expensive and less stressful.
But the thing is, New Zealand sucks at dealing with cancer.
Kiwi families have to put up with a lot of crap they shouldn't have to; trying to access life-saving drugs that are funded overseas but not here and trying to access treatment that can be hours away.
Because I tell you what else really sucks - postcode cancer care.
Our level of cancer care should not be based on where we live.
Cancer sucks but, as a country, we need to make sure it sucks less.
This is an issue for all of us.
In this week's show, we met Kiwis opening up about the toll cancer is taking on them; fundraising to get the drugs they need to live or shifting countries just to survive.
And a couple of dads, Justin and Rich, caring for their children with cancer, dealing with enough already but still standing up and saying the National Travel Assistance (NTA) fund, well, it sucks.
The National Travel Assistance Fund is a scheme that gives Kiwis money if they have to travel for treatment. People can claim mileage at 28c per kilometre and accommodation at $100 a night.
There's a form, you need to fill out, get authorised and send it by snail mail - then wait weeks for reimbursement.
It hasn't been updated since 2009 and it doesn't come close to covering costs.
For instance, Justin has spent $4000 on petrol and so far has received $900 back.
But on Wednesday night, something pretty special happened.
Te Whatu Ora listened. The NTA will be changed and heaps of Kiwis, like Justin and Rich, will benefit.
It's just one thing. But until we can fund more medicines faster, cut waitlists and screen earlier, this change will make cancer suck a bit less.
And that is absolutely awesome.
Patrick Gower hosts Paddy Gower Has Issues.
