MP Claire Hughes has released an eight-minute documentary film detailing her personal battle with breast cancer, aiming to encourage others to check their chests regularly and seek medical advice promptly. The film, now available on YouTube, follows her journey from discovering a small lump by chance through surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy for an aggressive form of the disease, to her recent return to work representing her community.
In the documentary, Hughes shares an honest account of her treatment and recovery, including how scenic coastal and mountain walks in North Wales helped her heal. She also expresses deep gratitude for the compassionate NHS staff who supported her throughout. “The breast care nurses, the surgeon, everyone is so kind. No one rushes you, everyone takes their time to answer your questions and make sure you’ve understood everything. We’re so lucky to have our NHS and to have such wonderful people who work in it,” she said.
Challenging the Myth That Breast Cancer Only Affects Older Women
Hughes hopes her story will challenge the common belief that breast cancer primarily affects older individuals. She encourages younger women to establish a regular checking routine and utilize online resources from organizations like Breast Cancer Now, CoppaFeel!, and Cancer Research UK. “Just because you’re young, don’t think that you don’t need to check yourself. The more I’ve learnt about it, the more I’ve seen how this type of cancer does affect younger women,” she emphasized.
Reflecting on her return to work, Hughes explained that facing a serious illness has given her a renewed sense of purpose. “Life is short. What bigger privilege is there than representing the place where you grew up and the place you call home? Going through cancer reminds you what really matters. It has only strengthened my determination to keep fighting for the communities I represent,” she said.
Charities Praise the Film for Raising Awareness
Leading national charities have praised the film for opening up conversations about breast health and early diagnosis. Claire Rowney from Breast Cancer Now highlighted the importance of early detection: “We know that breast cancer is the biggest killer of working age women in the UK, and around 1 in 7 women in the UK will develop it in their lifetime. But when breast cancer is picked up early, at stage 1, 98% of people survive for five years or more. But when it’s picked up at stage 4, that drops to only 27%.”
Rowney added, “At Breast Cancer Now, we say it’s as easy as TLC: Touch your breasts or chest. Look for changes. Check anything new or unusual with a GP. We know that people like Claire sharing their stories helps normalise discussions around breast health and the importance of breast checks.”
Younger Women and Crash Menopause: Key Concerns
Natalie Haskell from CoppaFeel! noted that thousands of younger women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. “We know that one in six breast cancer cases are diagnosed in women under the screening age, and for Black women, the average age of diagnosis is 46, four years before screening even starts,” she said. “In addition to this, we know that 1 in 3 younger women with breast cancer were initially dismissed by healthcare professionals when presenting with symptoms as they were deemed 'too young'.”
Dame Laura Lee from Maggie’s expressed gratitude for Hughes’ openness, particularly in shedding light on crash menopause, a common side effect of cancer treatment. “Many women face symptoms such as hot flushes, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia and brain fog during what is already an incredibly difficult time, yet awareness of crash menopause is low and many people are left unprepared for the impact it can have,” she said. “The more we talk about crash menopause, the more people will recognise the signs, know what support is available and feel confident seeking help.”
The documentary is available to watch online on YouTube. Anyone seeking guidance, advice, or support can visit the official websites for Maggie’s, CoppaFeel!, or Breast Cancer Now.
