Tests and screenings are the first line of defence for early detection of medical problems, which can be crucial in deciding how it all turns out. Preventing yourself from getting near the cliff's edge is better than hanging on for a rescue.
Allan bravely outlined the thoughts and feelings that hinder people from seeking help, including not wanting to think about a potential health threat. "To be honest, I'm one of those gals that hates anything to do with 'down there'. And have taken a 'see no evil, hear no evil' type approach to that part of my body," she said.
People don't expect their apparently healthy bodies to break down, even in cases where there's good reason to suspect they might. Diagnoses such as obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure are the canaries in the coal mine.
An eventual patient may have been overweight and on medication for everyday conditions for some time. But people become inured to living with underlying conditions. No matter how hard one believes they are trying to improve their health before disaster strikes, they know afterwards that they weren't trying hard enough.
When early symptoms manifest, it's also easy to rationalise them as something else. Back ache could be caused by a badly configured work chair, for instance. Allan put regular pain down to "driving, working long hours and the general stress of campaigns". She tried running.
A person's self-image too plays a part. They may prefer to sort things out themselves without outside help. They may take pride in toughing out troubles. They may be used to swallowing stress rather than finding ways to release it.
Other traps are an unrealistic hope that it will be nothing, or just not wanting to face bad news. Or simply taking a while to accept the seriousness of the situation.
There may be the thought that "this will gradually come right". Allan said she put off going to see a doctor, telling herself "that stuff usually sorts itself out".
Once the problem has been found, the same resilience, defiance and positivity that can delay dealing with it, can conversely help get a patient through. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said: "Kiri is a person of determination, and I can hear how focused she is on her treatment".
Friends, family and strangers can also be touchingly supportive. There has been a lot of public goodwill on social media for Allan.
Medical care is continually improving. Breakthroughs in developing the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine will soon be deployed to help fight cancer.
The quality of medical care for each patient is important, to ensure symptoms are investigated quickly and thoroughly, with tests and scans. Patients sometimes experience delays between initially seeking help and the right diagnosis being confirmed.
With cancer, delays give the enemy time to grow and spread. Delays can mean the treatment to deal with it will be harder. The quicker that medical advice is sought and the sooner treatment starts the better.
We must listen to what the body is telling us.
