![\"Claire](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/496936559_1108572991308240_581679206358414309_n.jpg\")
Claire O’Shea has died following a long battle with cancer(Image: Tenovus Cancer Care)<\/p>\nClaire O’Shea founded Claire’s Campaign to raise awareness about gynaecological cancers and empower women in Wales to share their experiences along the pathway to diagnosisClaire O’Shea has died following a long battle with cancer(Image: Tenovus Cancer Care)<\/p>\n
Inspirational cancer campaigner, Claire O’Shea has died aged 42. A moving tribute to the woman “who inspired hundreds” was released by Tenovus Cancer Care on Monday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Claire, from Cardiff<\/a>, had been going back and forth to her GP for almost two years before her diagnosis was confirmed. The charity worker, who had received a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome from the GP, said: “I knew it wasn’t IBS.” But it was not until she went on holiday to Istanbul with friends and visited a hammam \u2013 a Turkish bath where you can get a massage \u2013 that she started to get answers.<\/a><\/p>\n Eventually Claire was diagnosed with a rare cancer called uterine leiomyosarcoma. Her cancer was at stage four and had spread to her liver, lungs, and bones.<\/p>\n The late diagnosis lead to her sharing her story with an inquiry by the Senedd\u2019s health and social care committee because she wanted to raise awareness of how, too often, the NHS<\/a> is giving women with gynaecological cancer a false diagnosis.<\/p>\n She also founded Claire’s Campaign to raise awareness about gynaecological cancers and empower women in Wales to share their experiences along the pathway to diagnosis<\/p>\n Sharing the sad news of her death, a spokesperson for Tenovus said: “We are devastated by the death of Claire O\u2019Shea, who has passed away from gynaecological cancer at the age of 42.<\/p>\n “Our thoughts are with Claire\u2019s loved ones, as well as all the women she touched through Claire\u2019s Campaign. Working alongside Claire has been a great honour for us as a charity.”<\/p>\n The charity added: “Her strength, warmth, and determination inspired hundreds of women to share their experiences and helped drive real change in how gynaecological cancers are understood, talked about, and addressed across Wales.<\/p>\n “Claire\u2019s untimely death is a powerful reminder of why this campaign matters so much. We remain fiercely committed to continuing this work, in partnership with Claire\u2019s family and our friends at Cavendish Cymru, to make sure her legacy lives on.<\/p>\n “Thank you, Claire, for ever.”<\/p>\n MS Julie Morgan was one of the first to pay tribute saying: “Such devastating news. My thoughts go out to Claire’s friends and family at this very sad time.<\/p>\n “Claire turned her negative experience of getting her cancer diagnosis into a positive, forceful campaign to ensure that no other woman goes through the same thing. She will be missed.”<\/p>\n After Claire gave evidence, a Senedd committee published a report about gynaecological cancer care in Wales.<\/p>\n It contains 26 recommendations to the Welsh Government<\/a> about how women\u2019s health services should be better supported and how to stamp out “a dangerous bias which is putting lives at risk”. You can read more about it here.<\/a><\/p>\n The committee says it heard from women who were “left dealing with the life-changing consequences when their concerns were repeatedly dismissed by healthcare professionals”.<\/p>\n Join the WalesOnline WhatsApp community<\/p>\n WalesOnline has launched a new breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community. From the biggest court stories to the latest traffic updates, weather warnings and breaking news, it’s a simple way to stay up to date with what’s happening in Wales.<\/p>\n Want to join? All you have to do is click on this link<\/a>, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in. We will not spam your feed with constant messages, but you will receive updates from us daily.<\/p>\n If for some reason you decide you no longer want to be in our community, you can leave by clicking on the name at the top of your screen and clicking ‘Exit Group’. We occasionally treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can read our Privacy Notice here.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Claire](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_5226a518-18ab-4995-96bf-0859d0fc2d22-3.jpg\")
Claire used her experience to help hundreds of women(Image: Senedd)<\/p>\n