A terminally ill Southland man has had his hopes dashed for a cancer care agency.

Blair Vining has been fighting for an agency to ensure fair and fast care for Kiwis after facing huge waits for advanced bowel cancer treatment. His treatment has spread recently to his hips, and his family could possibly be forced to move. 

He and his wife, Melissa, met with the Heath Minister this week.

She told Mike Yardley David Clark agreed New Zealand's current cancer care isn't acceptable, with disparities across the country.

"We agreed on the need for accountability and targets, which was pleasing, but our overall impression from the meeting is that there won't be a cancer agency."

Melissa says that they asked why the Southern District Health Board's, which the Vinings attend, cancer waiting times are so bad. They were told this week that Blair may have to wait six to ten weeks to get radiation to treat the latest developments in his cancer. 

"David Clark explained it is the Ministry of Health that is in charge of those poor performing DHBs. He said he was very aware of those concerns, he has to walk down the street and face those concerns all the time." 

Despite the set back, she says they're proud they've been able to shine a light on the issue.

"The campaign's bearing fruit in regards of awareness that many New Zealanders share our view, that cancer care in New Zealand is in crisis."

She says that they are not sure they have made the impact they would have liked to have with the Minister.