Latest news with #ClaireO'Shea
ITV News
12-05-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Claire O'Shea: Cancer campaigner misdiagnosed with IBS dies aged 42
A woman who used the time she had left following a terminal gynaecological cancer diagnosis to improve outcomes for others has died. Claire O'Shea was diagnosed with stage-four uterine leiomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer, in 2023 after initially being told she had irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). She had waited almost two years to get a cancer diagnosis. By then, the cancer had spread to her lungs, liver and hip bone, and it was too advanced for doctors to save her life. After sharing her story publicly, Claire said she was contacted by hundreds of women and families with similar experiences in Wales and beyond. She launched Claire's Campaign a year ago, focusing on "ensuring policy change through people's voices and stories and campaigning to change the culture of dismissing women's voices in healthcare settings". A statement shared by Claire's Campaign said: "We are heartbroken to share that Claire O'Shea has passed away. She died today, Monday 12 May, surrounded by her loved ones. "Anyone who had the privilege of meeting Claire will remember her vibrancy, humour, and incredible determination. After receiving her own incurable gynaecological cancer diagnosis following a poor experience, Claire made it her mission to raise awareness and make sure that other women in Wales wouldn't have to go through the same. "Since launching Claire's Campaign exactly a year ago, hundreds of women have come forward to share their experiences, and the campaign has driven change at the highest level in government. The impact Claire has had is immeasurable, and we are so proud of everything she achieved. Even in her final days, Claire remained open, courageous, and committed to campaigning for change. "We owe it to Claire to continue this vital work, and we are passionate about keeping her legacy alive through Claire's Campaign. Thank you to everyone who supported Claire, and to all the women who bravely shared their stories. Together, we will honour Claire's memory and make sure no one facing gynaecological cancer is left unheard." In 2023, Claire's story formed part of a Senedd inquiry into how women with gynaecological cancer are treated in Wales. Its report found a "bias" against women and said women's cancer concerns were being "dismissed, downplayed and unheard". The report made 26 recommendations, most of which the Welsh Government accepted. Speaking to ITV Cymru Wales, Claire previously said: "The majority of the time it's women who are dismissed, like 'oh you're premenopausal, so you might be having symptoms because of that'. Or maybe 'you've got IBS,' which is what I was told. "Lots of partners, husbands, brothers and sons have been in touch as well, to say 'this has happened to my mum or to my sister', and sadly the women have died because the cancer has been found so late."
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Claire O'Shea: Woman, 42, whose cancer was misdiagnosed as IBS dies
A woman who found out she had incurable cancer after months of being misdiagnosed has died. Claire O'Shea, 42, from Cardiff, was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but a masseuse on a Turkish holiday told her the lump in her abdomen could have a more sinister was later diagnosed with a rare type of gynaecological a post on Instagram, a spokesperson for Claire's Campaign said she died on Monday and they were "passionate about keeping her legacy alive." Ms O'Shea was referred for a scan within days of her return from holiday but was told she had benign fibroids - non-cancerous growths around the lump was the size of a grapefruit when she had that removed eight months later, but a biopsy in December 2022 confirmed it was uterine leiomyosarcoma - a cancer of the soft tissue in her telling her story, she said she had been approached by about 200 people who also felt they were O'Shea set up a group called Claire's Campaign, to amplify the voices of those who felt their symptoms were repeatedly dismissed by professionals. In the post on Instagram, a spokesperson for the group said that anyone who "had the privilege of meeting Claire will remember her vibrancy, humour, and incredible determination".It continued: "After receiving her own incurable gynaecological cancer diagnosis following a poor experience, Claire made it her mission to raise awareness and make sure that other women in Wales wouldn't have to go through the same."The impact Claire has had is immeasurable, and we are so proud of everything she achieved. "Even in her final days, Claire remained open, courageous, and committed to campaigning for change."
Wales Online
12-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Inspirational cancer campaigner dies aged 42
Inspirational cancer campaigner dies aged 42 Claire O'Shea founded Claire's Campaign to raise awareness about gynaecological cancers and empower women in Wales to share their experiences along the pathway to diagnosis Claire O'Shea has died following a long battle with cancer (Image: Tenovus Cancer Care ) Inspirational cancer campaigner, Claire O'Shea has died aged 42. A moving tribute to the woman "who inspired hundreds" was released by Tenovus Cancer Care on Monday afternoon. Claire, from Cardiff, had been going back and forth to her GP for almost two years before her diagnosis was confirmed. The charity worker, who had received a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome from the GP, said: "I knew it wasn't IBS." But it was not until she went on holiday to Istanbul with friends and visited a hammam – a Turkish bath where you can get a massage – that she started to get answers. Eventually Claire was diagnosed with a rare cancer called uterine leiomyosarcoma. Her cancer was at stage four and had spread to her liver, lungs, and bones. Claire used her experience to help hundreds of women (Image: Senedd ) The late diagnosis lead to her sharing her story with an inquiry by the Senedd's health and social care committee because she wanted to raise awareness of how, too often, the NHS is giving women with gynaecological cancer a false diagnosis. She also founded Claire's Campaign to raise awareness about gynaecological cancers and empower women in Wales to share their experiences along the pathway to diagnosis Article continues below Sharing the sad news of her death, a spokesperson for Tenovus said: "We are devastated by the death of Claire O'Shea, who has passed away from gynaecological cancer at the age of 42. "Our thoughts are with Claire's loved ones, as well as all the women she touched through Claire's Campaign. Working alongside Claire has been a great honour for us as a charity." The charity added: "Her strength, warmth, and determination inspired hundreds of women to share their experiences and helped drive real change in how gynaecological cancers are understood, talked about, and addressed across Wales. "Claire's untimely death is a powerful reminder of why this campaign matters so much. We remain fiercely committed to continuing this work, in partnership with Claire's family and our friends at Cavendish Cymru, to make sure her legacy lives on. "Thank you, Claire, for ever." MS Julie Morgan was one of the first to pay tribute saying: "Such devastating news. My thoughts go out to Claire's friends and family at this very sad time. "Claire turned her negative experience of getting her cancer diagnosis into a positive, forceful campaign to ensure that no other woman goes through the same thing. She will be missed." After Claire gave evidence, a Senedd committee published a report about gynaecological cancer care in Wales. It contains 26 recommendations to the Welsh Government about how women's health services should be better supported and how to stamp out "a dangerous bias which is putting lives at risk". You can read more about it here. Article continues below The committee says it heard from women who were "left dealing with the life-changing consequences when their concerns were repeatedly dismissed by healthcare professionals". Join the WalesOnline WhatsApp community WalesOnline has launched a new breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community. From the biggest court stories to the latest traffic updates, weather warnings and breaking news, it's a simple way to stay up to date with what's happening in Wales. Want to join? All you have to do is click on this link, select 'Join Community' and you're in. We will not spam your feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily. If for some reason you decide you no longer want to be in our community, you can leave by clicking on the name at the top of your screen and clicking 'Exit Group'. We occasionally treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can read our Privacy Notice here. Join our WhatsApp community here
