Latest news with #TenovusCancerCare
North Wales Live
21-07-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
Covid cancellation of routine check up and singing helped save nurse's life
A senior nurse reveals how singing in a choir saved her life after two cancer diagnoses - and the pandemic cancelling a check-up may have also helped keep her alive. Her body was fixed by the NHS yet her mind was broken after two gruelling cancer recoveries but now she feels her life is back on track. As a busy ward manager for a North Wales hospital, Christine Plant knew perhaps more than most about the signs and symptoms of cancer. When she noticed blood in her poo occasionally, she knew the best thing to do was to get an appointment with her GP, and a follow up consultation for a colonoscopy. As a full-time nurse, married with two teenage boys, a very busy and demanding job, Christine, 54, of Conwy, still believed that the demands of her job, perhaps were at the heart of her problems. 'I thought I eat healthy food I had a good BMI, and I don't drink much at all, so I would be ok. But I was told I had rectal cancer, commonly known as bowel cancer and that I would need surgery, a stoma and chemotherapy. "I was 46 and hadn't expected to hear I had cancer, it was a frightening time and my sons who were age 13 and 16 at the time and I felt for them.' Following surgery, chemotherapy and a stoma reversal, Christine went back to work and decided to switch jobs from being a ward manager to specialising as a breast cancer nurse in 2019. But just prior to the Covid pandemic in March 2020, Christine was called for her first routine mammogram. This was cancelled due to COVID. A few months later Christine felt a small pea-sized lump in one of her breasts. Life was busy and she didn't make an appointment at the time. But as the first routine check-up had been cancelled she was called back in the autumn. 'It was September 2020 and I was called for my first routine mammogram. Working as a breast cancer nurse, I knew the protocol - but then I had a recall to say they wanted to see me and it was then I was told then I had breast cancer. "I felt grateful in a way that I was seen in September rather than the March as it may not have been picked up six months earlier and it could have been a different story,' she says. 'Following surgery and radiotherapy to treat the breast cancer. I felt my body was fixed, but my mind wasn't. "I remember going into clinic one day and thinking, I can't do this, I need to change something, my mind wasn't fixed and that's when Tenovus Cancer Care changed everything.' Christine was scrolling through Facebook and came across an invitation for Sing with Us Choirs and that was to change the course of Christine's life. She explained: 'I got in contact with the choir master Andrew Roberts, and he asked me if I knew what type of singing voice I had? "I didn't have a clue! I wasn't even sure I could sing, but that didn't matter, as the main thing was I felt welcomed as soon as I came through the door on that Tuesday night in Llandudno.' 'For the first six weeks of being in the choir I kept expecting someone to tap me on the shoulder and tell me to mime. Instead, I felt lifted in spirit and in my mind. I truly believe that singing in the Tenovus choir has probably saved my life." She added: 'I never thought that singing in a choir would have been on my bucket list, but it was, and If I missed a choir night, I could feel myself going downhill and getting slightly more depressed. 'Having got so much out of the choir, I knew I wanted to give something back and so I decided to volunteer in the Conwy Tenovus Cancer Care shop a morning a week and I love it, I meet so many amazing people.' And for Christine it didn't stop there, having chatted to Andrew about her feeling the need to give back, he suggested she join forces with the charity as a Community Engagement volunteer. Now Christine shares her story to groups, to encourage others that there is light and hope at the end of what can seem like a very dark tunnel. 'I always tell people how the choir made me feel whole again. I come out with a beaming smile every time I go. "Since joining three years ago I have sung in the Tenovus 80th birthday celebrations in St David's concert hall with 400 other choristers, done a firewalk, an abseil, organised a Tea for Ten event, held a dressage event, Canter for Cancer and now organising a fashion show, using clothes and accessories from our shops. "This is all done with the help of family and friends, old and new as we have a strong community here in North Wales.' Since going through two major cancer operations and treatments, Christine is now working as a gynaecology oncology nurse and working with cancer patients. She feels her experience means she can look at things in a different way to perhaps some of her colleagues. 'I listen to patients and If I feel they need help with their mental wellbeing, I do refer them to the choirs." * Christine has been recognised by Tenovus Cancer Care as part of the annual Volunteer Awards in the collaborative section for dedication and commitment to the work she does for the charity in her spare time.
Pembrokeshire Herald
28-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Ashmole & Co raise more than £16,000 for Welsh cancer charity
Staff skydive, run and walk to support Tenovus Cancer Care STAFF at Ashmole & Co have raised more than £16,000 for Tenovus Cancer Care following a year of ambitious fundraising challenges, including skydives, marathons and charity walks. The accountancy firm's team pulled together across its Welsh offices to raise a total of £16,109.55 for the cancer support charity. Among the highlights was a tandem skydive over the Gower coastline, completed by ten thrill-seeking staff members. Partner Jim Cornock took on both the London Marathon and the notoriously gruelling Marathon Eryri last autumn, while Helen James from the Ammanford office organised a fundraising entertainment evening that brought in more than £1,600. Other events included a 12-mile sponsored walk along the Swansea coastal path and regular dress-down Fridays and cake sales in offices across the region. Sharon George, Partner at the Carmarthen office, said: 'Everyone knows someone affected by cancer. We wanted to support a charity based here in Wales, and Tenovus Cancer Care does incredible work helping families across the country. We're so grateful to our clients and friends who contributed to this effort—it's thanks to them we've raised such a significant amount.' The funds raised will cover one month's costs to operate one of Tenovus' Mobile Support Units, which deliver vital cancer treatments and services directly to Welsh communities. Clare Davies, Regional Fundraising Manager for Tenovus, added: 'We're incredibly grateful to Ashmole & Co for their dedication over the past year. The money they've raised will make a real difference to cancer patients and their families, helping us provide treatment, expert advice and emotional support when it's needed most.' Tenovus Cancer Care supports people affected by cancer across Wales through a wide range of services, including a free support line, community choirs, and its Mobile Support Units. For more information, visit
Powys County Times
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Tenovus Cancer Care 10YFan challenge team climb Pen y Fan
A group of 41 trekkers climbed Pen y Fan 10 times in 24 hours to raise money for charity. The challenge was organised by Tenovus Cancer Care to raise money for the Welsh charity. Pen y Fan is South Wales' highest peak standing at 2,907 feet and the trekkers raised more than £10,000. The 10YFan challenge is equivalent to climbing Everest and is considered no mean feat. Last weekend, staff and volunteers at basecamp, including the ever-resourceful and smiling cooks, provided food and encouragement to the trekkers who participated in the event. Becky Edmunds from Tenovus Cancer Care, who was at the event and saw the walkers off from the start, said their efforts were 'amazing,' with every trekker going 'above and beyond' to raise funds for charity. She said: "Every step of the way our amazing supporters went above and beyond to raise important funds for Tenovus Cancer Care. "I would like to say how amazing the event was and the lengths people went to in order to support the charity.
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
