'I don't understand why Wales can't have the same', cancer campaigner calls for research
Rhiannon Eaves lost her mum to pancreatic cancer 3 years ago, now she calls for more funding and research
Last updated 20th Jan 2025
A cancer campaigner is calling for more pancreatic cancer research funding.
Rhiannon lost her mum, Pia Eaves, to pancreatic cancer three years ago, now she says more money is needed to find a cure.
Following the news that no health board in Wales had met its cancer waiting time targets in more than four years, Rhiannon says more needs to be done.
"I just think it's really sad there are more research facilities in Scotland, a few in Ireland and majority in England but I think to have so little in wales, in a place where my family grew up, I think it's just a shame."
Currently there are over thirty research centres called PRECISION-Panc set up across the UK, but only two are in Wales.
Rhiannon continues: "There shouldn't be such a disparity between places to have research for a disease that's killing people all over the UK.
"I don't understand why Wales can't have the same research facilities as England for example."
The public sector watchdog for Wales said there has been a "continuing failure to meet national performance targets for cancer" and stronger, clearer national leadership is urgently needed to improve services.
The watchdog also called for greater clarity over the roles of the Welsh Government and the NHS Executive in overseeing and supporting improvement.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: "We welcome the findings from the Audit Wales report and are committed to improving cancer services in Wales.
"We are absolutely focused on working with the NHS to improve access to diagnosis and treatment as part of our target for 75% of those diagnosed to begin treatment within 62 days of when their cancer is first suspected.
"We are also revising our national cancer leadership arrangements to provide a clearer and stronger direction for cancer improvement."
Rhiannon and her family took part in a charity fundraising walk from Billericay in Essex to Barry Island in South Wales (where her mum was from).
After raising over £150,000 for Pancreatic Cancer UK, Rhiannon says the Welsh Government need to invest more into research services including focusing on increasing awareness:
"When my mum was first diagnosed and I was told she had pancreatic cancer, I had no idea what that was because it is so under-researched.
"It's not really talked about as a cancer, despite it being one of the most deadly"
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Our investment in cutting-edge cancer research in Wales continues to support Welsh researchers to contribute to the UK and global efforts to better diagnose and treat different forms of cancer.
“We also fund the Centre for Trials Research and support health boards to recruit and manage patients in clinical cancer trials.”