Rhyl mum with secondary breast cancer calls for more support
Danielle Robinson, 37, was found in 2023 to have cancer measuring 10cm in her left breast, which then also spread to her liver, and has been told she is likely to live for two to three more years.
She is currently under the 'exceptional' and 'amazing' care of the breast oncology team at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan.
A meeting was held in the Senedd on April 29, which Danielle was invited to, to hear how Welsh Government is progressing in improving care for secondary breast cancer patients.
It follows tireless campaigning from a South Wales lady, Tassia Haines, who died from secondary breast cancer aged 32 last year.
The event was a roundtable opportunity for breast cancer-focused organisations and patients to have an open discussion in confidence.
Danielle said: 'Welsh Government agreed to roll out a cancer pathway and pay for specialist clinical metastatic breast nurses in each health board, and also to make sure that Wales is collecting correct and up-to-date data so that patients can receive correct care and support for secondary breast cancer.
Danielle Robinson (Image: Danielle Robinson) 'My clinical nurse specialist (CNS), Nia Whelan, is an amazing lady - she's a guardian angel to all of us who are suffering, and is our first port of call.
'But Nia is currently the only CNS in Glan Clwyd, and has over 250 patients for breast and colorectal cancer.'
Danielle said she does not want her CNS to leave her role due to being 'overloaded with work'.
She has called for more CNSs in each Welsh hospital, and also for 'better local support services'.
'How is she even supposed to support individuals, build relationships, and be an advocate for us patients?' she added.
'She is absolutely amazing at her job, and us ladies and gents would be lost without her impeccable support and love and care for us like family.
'We need more nurses in these roles or support workers.'
David Rees, MS for Aberavon and deputy presiding officer of the Senedd, sponsored the event in the Senedd on April 29.
Mr Rees said: 'We are continually campaigning for better services to support patients with metastatic breast cancer and deliver on the pathway that has been established following hard campaigning by Tassia Haines.
'This meeting was part of the work in that campaign.'
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: 'The provision of cancer specialist nursing is a workforce matter for health boards.
'We expect services to be delivered in line with clinical standards and guidelines, and for people with metastatic breast cancer to be cared for by a multi-disciplinary team, which includes specialist nurses.'
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