'People thought I was on my death bed': Teremoana Rapley disgusted by media hyping her cancer journey for clicks

Award-winning Pacific musician Teremoana Rapley says she's disappointed in media sensationalising her cancer journey to the detriment of her loved ones.

Pacific Mornings invited Rapley to speak with Levi Matautia-Morgan, after her recent interview with André Chumko for the Sunday Star Times, where she spoke on her cancer journey.

She says no one spoke to her from the other news outlets who also wrote on her journey.

"They were able to put things into their own story that were out of context," Rapley says.

"So, when people read it people thought that I was on my death bed."

She says their versions of her story, which went viral, are different from the original and is likely why these articles garnered so much traction because it "was designed that way".

"To shock, to have people who emotionally respond to this person whether they knew of me or not.

"My [direct messages on social media] were full of crying emojis and broken heart emojis."

Rapley says upon the release of her Sunday Star Times story, she sent the article to her dad as a heads up for her family, to which her father replied that he liked the story.

She says that was the "epitome" for her, as her parents' approval was a good first sign. However, by that afternoon she was flooded with notifications.

"I think it was the NZ Herald one first or maybe the RNZ one that was released.

"People saying 'I just saw that RNZ story and I'm so sorry that's happening to you.'"

Confused and questioning if she did a story with RNZ, Rapley sought out the aforementioned articles in which she found they had "taken elements of that original story to hype it up, to get a viral response".

"For me, that's quite disgusting behaviour because they're trying to utilise my health care but more so the possibility of my early death."

She says what she said in the Sunday Star Times interview was that she had already outlived her initial grim diagnosis, received almost two years ago, that predicted she had six months to live.

"Which was the point of the story. It was not to say to people I'm dying because I'm not. And I don't plan on dying anytime soon."

She says she started getting upset when her family contacted her crying, as the sensationalisation had led to traumatising them and re-traumatising her.

"I had to stop reading the comments because people were making comments about my health care and me like I was already dead.

"I'm like 'Yo! I'm still alive! I'm still alive, I've got three albums to come out!"

Rapley would then repost an Instagram video of her on vacation which showed she did not appear sickly.

"That was the point. I've had to overcome a lot to get to this point in my life."

One of those things was Rapley's approach and commitment to a lifestyle change, saying she opted for natural treatment which, without medication, had successfully stopped the growth of her two tumours within the first six months.

"I'm not advising anybody to follow what I'm doing.

"I'm quite a geeky person so I have researched a lot of information, I've spoken to other medical specialists and friends who work within the industry to get the best advice possible."

Additionally, she says she wants to change the rhetoric of "battling with cancer" as to her "it's something that I'm living with".

"It is part of my life right now but I also want to say it is not mine to keep.

"It's something that my body has brought in to protect me, to say 'hey there are some things that you need to change in your life'.

"I've been working on that very regimentally for the last 18 months or so or since I first found out."

She says that it is integral that the media, which reflects society, upholds trust and authenticity.

Rapley also shares gratitude for the love and support she has received despite some of it being sourced in a misinformed place.

"I want to send all my love out to everybody right now who have sent me love back because I really appreciate it.

"But I am so good right now."

Watch the full interview via 531pi's Facebook page below: