Surgeon Richard Babor treats many cancer patients, and inevitably he's faced with the same question – 'How could I have prevented this?'
In the new four-part TVNZ series How Not To Get Cancer, Babor explores that question.
Dr Richard Babor, host of TVNZ's How Not To Get Cancer Photo: TVNZ
Cancer is a very emotional and difficult topic to discuss, Babor tells Jesse Mulligan, and the show aims to be light and engaging rather than prescriptive.
"We really didn't want it to be another white-coated dude telling people what not to do.
"We wanted to make something healthy and constructive that offered some alternatives that are not punishing or blaming people."
If New Zealand is to be smoke-free by 2025, vaping could play a role, Babor says.
"There's some really positive things around vaping. It's not a perfect solution [but] if we're gonna get there we have to consider all of those alternatives."
Babor has taken on some of the show's dietary recommendations himself –he now eats less meat, no processed meat at all, more vegetables, less dairy and less sugar.
"Animal proteins altogether are a driver of cell proliferation. Our bodies aren't really designed to eat as much animal protein as we do.
"Probably bacon people are going to be upset, but bacon's bad for you."
In addition to diet and exercise, How Not To Get Cancer looks at the potential carcinogenic effects of agricultural chemicals and air pollution.
The air quality in downtown Auckland is worse than you might think, Babor says.
"At the waterfront, where the ferries are, it's the cleanest air in the world because it's just blown in across tens of thousands of kilometres of the Pacific Ocean, but by the time we reach the bottom of Queen Street it's a different story."
You can watch How Not To Get Cancer here.
