Diolch to the Business Committee for the urgency, enabling this debate to take place following last week's Petitions Committee meeting. I know that Tassia is here today, and I'd like to thank her and congratulate her on her efforts to raise awareness of metastatic breast cancer.

Tassia, I can't begin to imagine how difficult this campaign has been for you. You're an inspiration to us all, and your voice will speak for the 35,000 people living with metastatic breast cancer across the UK. End-of-life cancer care cannot be based on assumptions. People in Wales are dying now. It isn't possible to plan care or create pathways without solid, reliable data. If we are to support people living in Wales with metastatic breast cancer, we need to know exactly how many people are being treated. Many of us have stood in this Chamber on more than one occasion calling to combat the inequalities that exist within women's health. It's a fact that the leading cause of death in women aged between 35 and 64 in the UK is metastatic breast cancer. Access to a clinical nurse specialist is the main point of consistent contact between different health professionals. For people suffering with metastatic breast cancer, this must be seriously considered.

Tassia has shared an open letter, which has been supported by 277 metastatic breast cancer patients, stating that the care needed isn't received. An extract from the letter reads:

'Can you comprehend what it is like to navigate your final months/years between disability, pain and death? And in my case be too sick to pursue a career and have a family, but is not sick enough to die, just yet?'

The truth is, unless we find ourselves in that position, we cannot begin to comprehend what it is like, but what we can do is help raise awareness. Last week, I attended the funeral of a dear friend, Marion Abbott, who sadly passed with metastatic breast cancer. Today and tomorrow, the team at Canolfan Pentre are holding a 'wear it pink' cake sale to raise money and awareness of metastatic breast cancer in the memory of Marion, and to support those who are campaigning, like Tassia. We owe it to them to continue raising awareness, to urgently work towards better data collection, and to seriously consider increasing the number of secondary breast cancer clinical care specialists, who prove invaluable to improve the care and quality of life of people with metastatic breast cancer in Wales. Diolch.