Few issues better capture the need for urgent action than brain tumours.
More than 400 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour in Wales every year; the biggest cancer killer of people under 40. Survival rates in Wales are lagging far behind, ranking 25th out of 33 comparable countries for survival rates. We’re calling on the newly elected Welsh government to prioritise this area of unmet need.
Calling for a National Brain Tumour Strategy in Wales
During the election, Plaid Cymru made manifesto commitments to strengthen cancer policy in Wales, including through a dedicated cancer plan focused on earlier diagnoses, improving access to treatment, and ending the postcode lottery of care. We now need to make sure brain tumours are part of that conversation from the start, and that people affected by brain tumours are no longer left behind.
A National Brain Tumour Strategy is the only way to make sure that every person affected by a brain tumour receives a faster diagnosis, better care and support, kinder, kinder and more effective treatments, and greater investment in research.
Why action is needed in Wales
For people living with a brain tumour, these issues are deeply personal. Our first Welsh Young Ambassador from the 2024-26 cohort, and high-profile influencer, Molly Fenton, outlines her experience of care living with a low grade glioma on her optic nerve, and why change is urgently needed:
It was only after becoming a Young Ambassador – the first from Wales – did I realise how behind we were here in many aspects of brain tumour care. It shocked me seeing how other devolved nations had progressed and yet we hadn’t.
The personal impact this had on me included having to travel across the English boarder for specialist input. Transport, hotels, time off work for my mum, impact on my siblings…it goes on. Another was initially not having access to support, or knowing about charities I could access.
As a Young Ambassador, I frequently visited Y Senedd with The Charity to share my experiences and raise awareness with cross-party members, and have had questions brought up in First Ministers Questions. For example, Wales’ view on a cancer plan and how Wales will approach the Rare Cancers Bill.
In the run up to the election, Molly attended husting events to make sure that rare and less survivable cancers were part of these conversations:
“I found that no one was talking about them until I bought it up, as screening and prevention doesn’t work for brain tumours.
There are many differences in Wales that needs its own approach as opposed to a copy and paste from England. The reality now is longer travel times, delays between services, limited access to clinical trials, inconsistencies in access to care and bigger financial impacts on families.
Someone close to me was diagnosed last year and we are having the same discussions and issues despite many years between our diagnoses.
Wales can no longer be an afterthought and this new government shows opportunity to ensure that changes for people like me.”
What’s next for our National Brain Tumour Strategy campaign in Wales
Over the coming weeks, we’ll be writing to the new Cabinet Secretary of Health and Social Care, engaging new and returning Members of the Senedd, and working with people affected by brain tumours in Wales to build evidence, relationships and campaign support needed to drive change.
As we enter a new parliamentary session, Wales has a chance to be a leader in improving outcomes for people with brain tumours. We need to make sure that this opportunity is not missed.