Covid 19 coronavirus Delta variant: Why it's so important for this Napier teen that everyone follows the rules

Meg Higgs, who until recently was working at a Covid-19 vaccine centre, said it was exciting to see how many people were happy to get vaccinated. Photo / Warren Buckland

Like most 18-year-olds, Meg Higgs looks forward to life after lockdown.

But the Napier teen recently diagnosed with cancer for a third time has offered a sobering message for those who aren't following level 4's rules or are hesitant about getting vaccinated: what you're doing is risking her life.

Higgs was first diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma aged just 7.

"It was quite gnarly. I was given a 5 per cent chance of survival."

She underwent a "very hardcore" treatment regime, which saw her one of the first people in New Zealand to trial Chimeric, now widely available.

The cancer came back in 2018. She underwent further treatment and was declared to be in remission just before lockdown began last year.

"Last lockdown, I stayed home and knuckled down with my last year of school. It was definitely not as scary as this one is."

A scan taken as part of her regular three-monthly check-ups just before the entire country entered alert level 4 lockdown last week found the cancer was back again.

Meg Higgs, 18, of Napier, was first diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age 7. It's now back for a third time. Photo / Warren Buckland

She felt lucky it had been picked up "early" in the scans as she worried it might not have been had lockdown been announced earlier.

While she's just "chugging along and staying at home" this time round, the increased spread of the Delta variant has her more worried than last time.

"I know if the beds fill up in the hospitals with the Delta variant, there wouldn't be a bed available for me and others for essential surgeries.

"If people go out during lockdown or need a hospital bed, I know that my surgery will be pushed back even further. This will allow my cancer to grow."

Higgs was especially concerned about the information being spread online.

"It's just that minority on social media that you see.

"It's human nature in times like these that everyone is thinking about themselves.

"All I want is for people to understand that this is serious."

Higgs has been on the frontlines of the pandemic, alongside her nurse practitioner mother, working at a Covid-19 vaccination clinic until recently.

"I'm lucky enough that I have both my vaccinations. It's really cool to see people coming in excited to get their vaccines."

She said if she could have got one last year she would have and encouraged all who were able to do so, or to at least turn to official information channels before deciding.

"When you wear a mask or have a vaccine, you are not just protecting yourself, you are protecting others - especially the immunosuppressed people like myself, or those waiting on treatments and surgeries."

Daffodil Day appeal cancelled: 'Cancer doesn't stop, so we won't either'

Lockdown restrictions meant the annual Daffodil Day street appeal, which typically raises about $1 million for those affected by cancer, has had to be cancelled.

Cancer Society of New Zealand CEO Lucy Elwood said the demand on its services during lockdown increased, with Covid-19 adding to the anxiety of those going through cancer.

"The tag-line for our Daffodil Day campaign is 'Cancer doesn't stop, so we won't either'. We are truly living those words right now – cancer doesn't stop because of Covid-19."

She urged people to donate and fundraise online this Daffodil Day - August 27 - at daffodilday.org.nz

ANZ has also created a daffodil that accepts donations simply by scanning the QR code on it or by visiting anz.co.nz/donate