\n
Thomas said continuity of care came up repeatedly among the Tenovus survey of GPs.<\/p>\n
“You have a 20% less chance of dying if you have the same team that looks after you,” she said.<\/p>\n
Maria Bailey feels being able to see the same GP was a factor in her own cervical cancer diagnosis.<\/p>\n
“I feel really lucky that she took me seriously from the off. She knows me – she knew I was alarmed and [the symptoms] weren’t normal for me. She took it very seriously,” she said. <\/p>\n
The 55-year-old from Pencoed, Bridgend county, experienced increased fatigue and light vaginal bleeding but put it down to working extra hours and the menopause.<\/p>\n
But in February she spoke to her GP after the bleeding intensified.<\/p>\n
“It was heavy bleeding and quite large clots, which I’ve never had before – they looked like baby seals and that was really alarming.”<\/p>\n
An internal examination followed by a raft of further tests uncovered a 4cm (1.5in) tumour and grade 2 cancer, external<\/span> around her cervix.<\/p>\n“I was in shock, but as soon as they said it wasn’t life-threatening, that was it. It was just one gear – and that was go.”<\/p>\n
Maria underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy and brachytherapy, external<\/span> across centres in Swansea and Cardiff and has since been raising money to provide essential provisions for others going through treatment for cervical cancer.<\/p>\n“I’m quite an organised person and don’t like walking into anything blind,” she said.<\/p>\n
But an online search for advice about the things needed when starting treatment yielded very little.<\/p>\n
She has now donated several “Bailey’s bags” to two cancer centres containing items such as a water bottle, strong-flavoured sweets to overcome the metallic taste treatment can leave, a foldable fan, neck cushion, battery pack for USB devices and a medication box.<\/p>\n
The Welsh government said: “We’re committed to strengthening primary care as the foundation of the NHS in Wales. <\/p>\n
“We’ve urged health boards to shift more resources towards primary and community care, with a further primary care summit planned to track their progress. <\/p>\n
“We’re updating our women’s health plan to make sure women’s voices are heard, and transforming how the NHS prevents, diagnoses and treats cancer through our 10-year national cancer strategy, with a focus on earlier diagnosis.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n
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