Million Dollar Tumour

In Million Dollar Tumour Dave Bowman narrates the “very personal tale” of his battle with cancer. The small town policeman was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 2005, aged 35. Bowman took on funding agency Pharmac and the bureaucracy of the public health system to try to get a treatment drug subsidised for himself and other sufferers. Although his efforts partly prevailed, Bowman died in mid 2006, after this Inside New Zealand documentary screened. Directed by Dave Crerar (Here to Stay), Million Dollar Tumour won Best Documentary at the 2006 Qantas TV Awards.  

Even though he was quite unwell ... people started phoning us and emailing us saying, 'Thank you so much. You have made such a huge difference in our lives.' ... Dave really got a lot of joy out of that in the last few weeks.

– Penny Bowman to The NZ Herald, after her husband's death in June 2006

Key Cast & Crew

Roger Yeaxlee

Editor

David Crerar

Director

Steven O'Meagher

Producer

Penny Clevely

Additional Camera

Renee Johansen

Production Coordinator

Greg Junovich

Sound Design