Bowel Cancer Survivor to spearhead “Customisable” Prehabilitation Research in New Zealand
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A new research initiative led by a bowel cancer survivor aims to revolutionize patient care through a personalized prehabilitation program, offering hope for improved quality of life and treatment outcomes.
Jodie Collins, diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer in 2020 at the age of 44, understands firsthand the anxieties and feelings of helplessness that accompany a cancer diagnosis. “When you’re diagnosed with cancer,it’s quite scary and nothing is in your control,because you’re waiting on tests,waiting for the specialists,waiting for the next thing,” Collins explained.
The program will be designed to address a critical gap in care, notably in Aotearoa New Zealand. “One thing I found, particularly going through my own journey, was there was a huge gap in, not onyl research, but also around the services that are provided in that prehab space in Aotearoa,” Collins noted. She envisions a “wrap-around service” that supports patients with exercise, healthy eating, and mental wellbeing, empowering them to feel stronger and recover more effectively from surgery and treatment.
A Personal Journey Fuels Groundbreaking Research
Collins’ commitment to this research is deeply personal. Her family history with colorectal cancer – her uncle successfully treated in his 30s, and her father lost to the disease within eight months of diagnosis – spurred her to seek medical attention when she began experiencing non-specific symptoms. A subsequent colonoscopy revealed a large mass in her bowel,with the cancer having already spread to her lymph nodes and later to her lungs,requiring multiple surgeries.
“My last scan was clear – the first in five years – so that’s pretty exciting,” Collins shared, acknowledging that this positive progress has given her the capacity to dedicate herself fully to this ambitious research project. She added, “I can now think, ‘What next?’ Earlier, I didn’t want to start something, because I wasn’t sure if I would be able to see it through.”
Living in rural Waikato, Collins is particularly passionate about ensuring her research benefits “under-served communities,” creating a program that is accessible and effective for people regardless of their location. “I want to make something that works for people where they are at.”
Cancer Society invests in Future Research
The Cancer Society’s commitment to cancer research was further demonstrated with the announcement of over $1 million in funding for various projects, including Collins’ PhD scholarship.Over the past decade, the organization’s National Research Grants Program has invested more than $50 million in cancer research.
According to Cancer Society Director of Research and Innovation Christelle Jolly, the funding is crucial for supporting the cancer research workforce. “Our support for post-doctoral fellowships has helped to propel researchers along their career path and has enabled important progress to be made in a range of fields. We hope this new funding announced today will continue to build on that momentum.”
Other recipients of the 2025 funding include:
- Dr. Judy Ann Cocadiz (University of Otago): Developing a device to capture circulating tumor DNA for early cancer detection.
- Dr. Yue Wang (University of Auckland): investigating the potential of blocking growth hormone to enhance melanoma treatment effectiveness.
- Associate Professor Stephen Jamieson (University of Auckland): Developing new treatments for melanomas driven by NRAS gene mutations, which account for up to 20% of cases.
- Dr. Andrea Teng (University of Otago, Wellington): Exploring the effectiveness of screen-and-treat strategies for Helicobacter pylori infection, a major risk factor for stomach cancer.
This wave of research funding underscores a growing commitment to innovative approaches in cancer care, offering renewed hope for patients and their families. Collins’ work, driven by personal experience and a dedication to improving patient wellbeing, promises to be a significant contribution to this vital field.
