A heart-wrenching plea for change from Caerphilly’s Ellie James, who is campaigning for “Owain’s Law” to put an end to the dreaded postcode lottery of care for brain cancer patients. Her husband, Owain, tragically lost his battle with glioblastoma in 2024, a loss Ellie believes could have been prevented with more personalised treatment options.
Currently, access to necessary frozen tissue for customised cancer treatments is inconsistent across the NHS, leaving many families struggling for solutions. This inconsistency left the James family to face heartbreaking decisions when crucial tissue wasn’t preserved correctly, severely limiting Owain’s treatment options.
Owain was only able to receive three lifesaving vaccines instead of the thirty he potentially needed, despite intense surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Though his tumour completely regressed for nine precious months, it devastatingly returned due to the lack of available vaccines, leading to Owain’s passing.
This pressing issue will be raised in a Westminster Hall debate this Wednesday, where Ellie will be advocating for a legal change. Owain’s Law would grant patients the right to decide how their tissue is stored and utilised, ensuring that people have access to the best possible treatment options.
Ellie passionately believes that if this law had been in place, her beloved husband might still be here today. She stresses the importance of patients having control and informed consent over their medical decisions, which could potentially save countless lives.
Join the conversation and show your support for Owain’s Law, a campaign striving to ensure every brain cancer patient has a fighting chance. Let’s push for change and make sure everyone receives the care and treatment they deserve, no matter where they live. #OwainsLaw #CancerCareEquality #EndPostcodeLottery