Reflections from our Summer Tea at the Senedd

On Wednesday 25 June, we at Tenovus Cancer Care brought together Members of the Senedd, stakeholders, clinicians, our team, and most importantly, members of the All-Wales Cancer Community for a Summer Tea with a difference.

Set in the Neuadd and Oriel, the atmosphere was warm, fun, informative, poignant, and honest. It was a space where lived experience took centre stage, not as a footnote, but as the starting point for change.

Gathering our community in that space felt powerful, a dignified act of visibility for those still here and those not. One that gently but firmly affirmed what Tenovus Cancer Care has always stood for: amplifying the voices of people affected by cancer and ensuring those voices are not just heard, but centred in shaping policy, services, and cancer culture across Wales.

A Manifesto with Meaning

But this was more than just tea and conversation, it was the public launch of our 2025 manifesto – Losing our patients.
 
We have outlined five key priorities and are asking the Welsh Government to consider and commit to them in the next term. The reception was overwhelmingly positive, and we’re proud to have created a platform that showed just how meaningful the All-Wales Cancer Community is to the future of cancer care in Wales.

Our panel featured brave, brilliant voices. Phil, a pioneer in Wales’ targeted lung cancer screening pilot — shared his survival story after an ACM tumour was detected early and treated with chemotherapy. Jess, who survived cervical cancer, spoke powerfully about the challenges of delayed diagnosis, the need for better referral pathways, and her connection to Claire’s Campaign, having met Claire during the Unheard report inquiry. Our CEO Judi Rhys opened the event by reading a statement of remembrance for Claire, which was a moving and grounding moment.

We were also joined by Dr Hasan Haboubi, Consultant Gastroenterologist and a key figure in advancing upper GI cancer services in Wales. His presence on the panel brought vital clinical perspective to the conversation around early diagnosis and less survivable cancers and MSs who heard firsthand why early detection and equity in access are so urgent. As David Rees MS, our sponsor of the event, stated on the day:

The Choir

Our Sing with Us Choir Swansea gave a performance that filled the Neuadd with joy. A standout rendition of ‘Stand By Me’ in particular brought smiles to faces and tears to eyes. I wish we could have them with us at every event! 

A Community for Wales

Events like this remind us why we at Tenovus Cancer Care do what we do. The All-Wales Cancer Community and our choirs offer spaces of solidarity, healing, and advocacy for those living with and beyond cancer.

If you couldn’t join us…

We hope you take away this message:

• We are demanding fairer, faster cancer services in Wales
• We are amplifying real voices to drive real change
• And we are building a community in song, in conversation, in insight and impact, and in policy that supports everyone and drives change

What’s next?

We will continue pushing our manifesto forward, not only toward the 2026 election, but right now, while this government is still sitting. Our hope is that by 2026, a national lung cancer screening programme is fully committed to and rolled out across Wales, and that our wider policy recommendations become action, not aspiration, because people in Wales deserve fairer, faster, cancer services.