Pic: Welsh Labour Press
Claire Hughes, the Labour MP for Bangor Aberconwy, has released a deeply personal film documenting her breast cancer journey in the hope that sharing her experience will encourage more people to check their chest and seek medical advice if something doesn’t feel right.
The eight-minute film follows Claire as she reflects on the seven months that changed her life – from finding a small lump by chance, to undergoing surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy for grade 3 triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease.
The documentary offers an honest account of the realities of cancer treatment and recovery. Claire also speaks about the unexpected impact of treatment-induced menopause, something she says she knew very little about before her diagnosis.
Claire, who was diagnosed in October 2025 just weeks after being appointed as a Government Whip and Wales Office Minister, says she decided to share her story because she hopes it will encourage others to check their chest regularly and seek advice from their GP if they notice any changes.
Claire says:
“If sharing my story encourages even one person to check themselves or go and get something looked at sooner, then it will have been worth it.”
Throughout the documentary, Claire reflects on the emotional and physical challenges of treatment, while also highlighting the moments that helped her through it. Filmed across North Wales, she describes how walking along the coast and in the Carneddau mountains close to home became an important part of her recovery.
She also pays tribute to the NHS staff who cared for her throughout her treatment.
She says:
“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.”
Claire hopes the film will also help challenge the misconception that breast cancer is something that only affects older women.
She says:
“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. There are loads of great resources online from Breast Cancer Now, CoppaFeel! and Cancer Research UK.”
Reflecting on completing treatment and returning to Westminster, Claire says the experience has changed her outlook on life.
She says:
“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.”
Around 60,000 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year. By sharing her own experience, Claire hopes the documentary will encourage more people to become familiar with the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, check their breasts regularly and seek medical advice if they notice anything unusual.
The eight-minute documentary film is available to watch on YouTube.
For more information about breast cancer, including symptoms, breast checking and support, visit Breast Cancer Now, CoppaFeel! or Cancer Research UK.
The film also has the support of Breast Cancer Now, CoppaFeel! and Maggie’s.
Claire Rowney, Chief Executive of Breast Cancer Now says:
“We’re so grateful to Claire for sharing her personal experience of breast cancer so candidly through this film and for highlighting the importance of breast checking and early diagnosis.
“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 5 years or more. But when it’s picked up at stage 4, that drops to only 27%.
“Around two-thirds of breast cancers are found by breast checking and when it’s found early, treatment is much more likely to be successful. Anyone can get breast cancer, that’s why it’s so important that people learn the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and make regular breast checking a habit, as it could save your life.
“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.”
Natalie Haskell, Chief Executive of CoppaFeel! said:
“We’re very grateful to Claire for sharing her story and highlighting 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. 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”.
“At CoppaFeel!, we’re on a mission to encourage regular chest checking, campaign for a screening system that considers risk – not just age, and more meaningful research to improve younger people’s breast cancer outcomes”.
Dame Laura Lee DBE, Chief Executive of Maggie’s, said:
“We are really grateful to Claire for sharing her experience of cancer so openly and honestly with this film. A cancer diagnosis affects every part of a person’s life, and by speaking about her cancer, Claire will help others impacted by cancer feel less alone and encourage them to seek support when they need it most.
“Everyone’s experience of cancer is different, but nobody should have to face it alone. At Maggie’s, we support people with any type of cancer, as well as their friends and family, helping them navigate everything from treatment and side effects to work, finances, relationships and mental health.
“We’re particularly grateful to Claire for shining a light on crash menopause, which is often caused as a result 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.
“The more we talk about crash menopause, the more people will recognise the signs, know what support is available and feel confident seeking help. At Maggie’s, we offer specialist support, including dedicated menopause and cancer workshops, alongside our wider programme of expert cancer care. All our support is free and offered at our 27 centres across the UK.”
For more information on breast cancer, including guidance on checking your breasts, recognising the signs and symptoms, treatment and support, follow the links below to Maggie’s, CoppaFeel! and Breast Cancer Now’s resources.
- Maggie’s – https://www.maggies.org/
- CoppaFeel! – https://coppafeel.org/
- Breast Cancer Now – https://breastcancernow.org/
About Claire Hughes MP
Claire Hughes is the Labour Member of Parliament for Bangor Aberconwy in North Wales.
A mother of two teenage children, she was first elected in July 2024. In September 2025, she was appointed as a Government Whip and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Wales Office.
In October 2025, Claire was diagnosed with grade 3 triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive form of the disease. She underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy before returning to Westminster in May 2026.
Claire has chosen to share her breast cancer journey publicly through an eight-minute documentary to encourage greater awareness of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, promote the importance of early diagnosis, and help others feel less alone during treatment and recovery. You can watch the documentary here – https://youtu.be/2MIzQRPyMd4
