Team Brown finally face race together

Shan Inglis' cancer treatment worked, and husband Len Brown is no longer a 'man alone'. Photo / Steven McNicholl

Shan Inglis, the lawyer wife of Super City mayoral contender Len Brown, is making a late dash on the campaign trail after successful treatment for throat cancer.

The 49-year-old mother of three has been noticeably absent from her husband's side after being diagnosed mid-year with papillary thyroid carcinoma, the most common form of thyroid cancer.

It's been a difficult time for the Manukau City mayor and mayoress as they juggle the pressures of an election campaign with a health scare and running a family household with daughters Samantha, 21, Olivia, 14, and Victoria, 14.

But after nearly losing her husband, who had a heart attack while giving a speech two years ago, and coming through cancer treatment, Ms Inglis feels blessed.

"It reminds you how important day-to-day things are," she said from the family home in rural Manukau.

Ms Inglis said the cancer had taken its toll, but each day she felt a bit better and more of the "strong-willed, sensitive girl" used to juggling a partnership in the Pakuranga law firm Muller Law with family and politics.

She had an exploratory operation in June which revealed the cancer.

This was followed by an operation to remove malignant tissue and a course of radioactive iodine treatment that kept her isolated at home.

The hardest part, however, was sending her two youngest daughters to stay with a niece in Tauranga for several weeks.

Ten days ago, the prognosis showed that treatment was extremely successful. A further scan in six months should confirm that.

Mr Brown said he had felt like a "man alone" for the past few months not having his wife at his side or feeling her presence under intense public spotlight on the hustings.

"It has been really difficult being out there by myself because we present very much a partnership and I miss her when she is not there.

"We keep getting hit with these challenges, but keep climbing out of a hole and beating them," he said.

Ms Inglis, who as mayoress is best known for hosting charity gala balls to raise money for Kidz First Children's Hospital at Middlemore, said she wanted people to know why she had been absent from the Super City campaign.

Mr Brown said it was just great to have Shan on the campaign for the final push home before next Saturday when the polls close.