Children’s entertainer and New Zealand icon Suzy Cato has taken to social media to remind people to “go get your WOF done”.
Cato shared images of her in hospital beds and gowns as she outlined medical checks she has undergone throughout the last several weeks.
Last week, the star shared an image on social media of her with a hospital bracelet with the comment: “Look after yourself, my friend, and look after your whānau and those around you. Show kindness and be the happiness – it will make a difference to you as much as it makes a difference to those around you.”
Yesterday, she explained further, saying the last couple of weeks “have seen a series of medical appointments for me – mostly routine ‘WOF’ type check ups.”
Cato said among other procedures, she has had a mammogram and a cervical smear.
“All routine and nothing major… but along with the knowledge that so many treasured family members and friends are going through their own challenges at the moment, those appointments contributed to the emotion around my ‘please make the most of every moment and be kind’ post,” she said.
She ended the post by sharing: “Thank you so much for your aroha. Know that it’s returned tenfold. I feel so so fortunate to have such caring loving friends.”
“But please give the love you showed me to yourself, too. And go get your WOF done. The world is a better place with you in it and if we can catch any challenges early we have a much better chance if growing old together, my friend.”
Cato’s reminder comes after Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson announced last month that she has breast cancer, and stressed the importance of early detection.
Davidson said she is having a partial mastectomy at the beginning of July, and recovery would take about four months but she was not exactly sure when she’d return to work.
In 2021, former Labour MP Kiri Allen revealed she had stage three cervical cancer. At the time, she said she had delayed getting screened and urged women to get checked.
New Zealand has three national cancer screening programmes — screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer and bowel cancer.
But if any person of any age has symptoms or concerns, the Cancer Society recommends they see a GP and get their WOF done – and not wait for their next cancer screening test.
