Film-maker focuses on positives

By ANGELA GREGORY

Award-winning young film-maker Cameron Duncan is back in the Starship hospital, using both conventional and alternative therapies in a determined fight against aggressive bone cancer.

The Auckland teenager's mother, Sharon Duncan, told the Herald yesterday that Cameron had been in a bad way a week ago, but he had improved thanks to his determination and the family's positive attitude.

Cameron was diagnosed last year with osteosarcoma, a bone cancer that attacks the limbs of young people, and his knee had to be replaced.

During his nine months of chemotherapy the plucky Avondale College student made a short film recording his gruelling encounter with the disease.

A period of remission followed, but this year Cameron discovered the cancer had returned - not long after celebrating the awards his film DFK6498 picked up at the Wanganui Rivercity Film Festival.

Mrs Duncan said his subsequent treatment in Mexico and Texas had come too late.

He returned to New Zealand just over a week ago and was readmitted to Starship for more chemotherapy.

Mrs Duncan said she was ensuring Cameron received a diet that would strengthen his immune system, and he used meditation to help visualise the tumours going away.

Although she realised the 17-year-old's health remained precarious, she felt the attitudes of cancer experts in New Zealand were negative compared with those overseas.

"It is very defeatist ... like a curse."

She was not ready to prepare herself for the worst outcome.

"He is certainly not resolved to die, and I'm not going to let him."