夜色直播

Maggie鈥檚 has centres providing support for people with cancer at each of the three major cancer hospitals in Wales.

Research shows that through providing psychological care, pre- and post-treatment support, and exercise classes, the charity saves NHS Wales 拢535,000 a year.

While the government鈥檚 decision to develop a long-term plan to improve cancer care across the country is welcome, Maggie鈥檚 is urging Health Secretary Mabon ap Gwynfor to ensure the strategy includes measures to support people with the emotional and practical impact of a diagnosis, both throughout treatment and beyond.

Seeking to embed our support into the Welsh cancer plan

Last year, Maggie鈥檚 opened its third Welsh centre at Glan Clwyd Hospital in Rhyl, joining Maggie鈥檚 at the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff, which opened in 2019, and Maggie鈥檚 at Singleton Hospital in Swansea, which has been supporting people with cancer since 2011.

There were more than 21,000 visits across the three centres in 2025, with people accessing a huge variety of support ranging from financial advice to exercise classes.

As the government begins to prepare its national cancer strategy for Wales, Maggie鈥檚 wants elements of its own support programme to be embedded into NHS cancer care, to ensure everyone facing a diagnosis can access the tailored support they need at every stage.

'Getting Started', for example, is a one-off session designed to help people get ready for treatment by providing information on what chemotherapy or radiotherapy involves, how its administered, what side effects to expect and how to manage them, and where to seek additional support if needed.

The session is delivered in a Maggie鈥檚 centre in collaboration with local hospital staff. Building a direct referral to Getting Started into the NHS pathway could ensure everyone diagnosed can both benefit from the workshop and be introduced to the wide range of support available at Maggie鈥檚.

Dame Laura Lee DBE, chief executive of Maggie鈥檚, said:

鈥淎round 20,000 people in Wales are diagnosed with cancer each year, and this number is only predicted to rise 鈥� meaning Maggie鈥檚 expert support is needed more than ever.

鈥淚t is encouraging that the government has already listened to the calls we made, along with the Wales Cancer Alliance, to create a national cancer strategy for the country. But it is crucial that this goes beyond just diagnosis and medical treatment.

鈥淐ancer can affect every part of someone鈥檚 life, from work and finances to family and mental health.

Making Maggie鈥檚 a standard part of cancer care in Wales would ensure individuals and their families receive support for all the challenges a diagnosis brings, helping people live full and productive lives with and beyond cancer.

鈥淲e look forward to working closely with the Welsh government as they develop this much needed strategy.鈥�

'A rush of love met me at the door'

Jo from Swansea was 38 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and her son was just 5 years old.

Jo accessed Maggie鈥檚 psychological support as well as receiving help from the expert team on talking to her son about her diagnosis. 

She said: 鈥淭he hardest part of being diagnosed is that you no longer live the life you have been living.

鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 until I鈥檇 stepped through the doors that I understood what Maggie鈥檚 really is. My husband and I walked up to this lovely, impressive building, we walked through those doors, and it just undid me. It was like a rush of love met me at the door.  

鈥淚 had been so frightened, and I didn鈥檛 know what was going to happen to me, but leaving after our first visit, we felt much more positive.

I already felt like it was going to be an anchor, a safe place that I could go to. 

鈥淭hrough Maggie鈥檚 I鈥檝e learnt that a cancer diagnosis needn鈥檛 be as frightening as everyone thinks it is. Just talking about it more makes it feel less frightening.

鈥淜nowing how to talk to my child about what we were going through and being able to have an honest conversation with him was a key part of my journey. I can鈥檛 imagine what our lives would have been like without the help of Maggie鈥檚.

鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a preconceived idea that cancer happens to the elderly and that鈥檚 not true at all. It doesn鈥檛 matter your age or your background; cancer doesn鈥檛 discriminate, but neither does Maggie鈥檚.鈥�

夜色直播: here for 30 years, here for good

In 2026, we're marking our 30th year of providing life-changing support since our first centre opened in Edinburgh in 1996.

We have 27 centres across the UK, all based in hospital grounds and providing free support for everyone impacted by cancer, with no appointment or referral needed.

If you or someone you love needs support, our expert staff are here to listen to your concerns and find the help you need wherever you are 鈥� over the phone and online.

• Just come in 
• Call us on 0300 123 180 or arrange a callback
• Email us at鈥�[email protected] 
• Our phone lines and centres are open 鈥疢onday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm