MP given clean bill of health

John Carter prefers Wellington to his Northland home, where physical chores might beckon. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Twelve days ago John Carter underwent a gruelling six-hour operation to remove a cancerous growth and a 30cm section of his bowel.

A week later the National MP for Northland was discharged from Wellington's Wakefield Hospital and sent home with a packet of Panadol for pain relief and the knowledge that he is free of cancer.

Lounging in his La-Z-Boy chair yesterday at his Wellington home - TV remote, telephone and laptop close at hand - the 55-year-old says he is feeling so good he has stopped taking the painkillers.

Because the bowel cancer was caught in the early stages Mr Carter will not have to undergo chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

"There's a lesson in this. Everyone should get themselves checked out as soon as there's any change in their body functions."

Mr Carter said there are a variety of reasons why people delayed getting treatment for medical problems, but he hoped his experience would encourage them to seek help early.

"My advice is get on to it right now and go and ask someone who knows. It's no big deal.

"If it's nothing you haven't lost anything, and if there is something you have everything to gain because the sooner you get on to it the sooner it is mended."

Mr Carter, who is serving his seventh term as an MP, will stay home for the next six weeks to give his body time to fully recover from the surgery.

He has opted to stay in Wellington because he says if he went home to Northland he would be tempted to do physical work.

But he will be doing constituency work through email and phone calls.

Mr Carter says he has received "bucket-loads" of cards, flowers and messages from well-wishers, including some from his political opponents.

"This is one of the things that reminds you that although you have your political views and political oppositions, at the end of the day when it comes down to individuals we are all humans.

"You put your politics aside and that is what has happened to me."