Full circle at Velindre as first patient in Wales gets new breast cancer treatment

31 May 2025

Barry resident Gwen Buchan has become the first person in Wales to receive a new breast cancer treatment that began its life as an idea and then clinical trials at Velindre Cancer Service 10 years ago.

Speaking on the day of her first treatment, Gwen said: “I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and had all the treatment – chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment – and have had 16 good years since then which I am very grateful for because I’ve known many people who haven’t had that. 

Last April I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer and recently my first line of treatment has stopped working which is devastating. This is where the new drug comes in. My oncologist mentioned that there was a new treatment coming on board and if I had a specific mutation, which I do have, I could get the treatment. I couldn’t quite believe it!"

Gwen’s new treatment was recently approved for use on the NHS in Wales after 10 years of development and clinical trials which started at Velindre as the FAKTION trial.

The treatment combines hormone therapy with an AKT inhibitor called capivasertib and has been approved by the USA’s Federal Drug Agency (FDA) and last month by the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). This new targeted treatment is designed to reduce the growth and spread of advanced breast cancer, giving patients more time and a better quality of life.

Prof Rob Jones, Consultant in Medical Oncology and Clinical Director for R&D at Velindre was the Chief Investigator on the FAKTION trial.

“This is a big achievement for Cardiff as the trial was developed by Velindre, sponsored by Velindre and delivered in collaboration with Cardiff University’s Centre for Trials Research.

“It is very rewarding to see the process come full circle, to see the treatment now available as standard of care for a great many breast cancer patients in Wales.

“This treatment will give patients time – time with their families and time to enjoy their lives and that is a huge achievement.”

Dr Simon Waters is Gwen’s oncologist, and he was involved in the early trials of this treatment at Velindre.

“What we have now is another option for our patients, one that has shown to be effective in treating a particular type of metastatic breast cancer.

“I am delighted to be able to offer this treatment to Gwen, the first patient in Wales to receive it.

“Research is vital to moving cancer treatments forward and I am proud of the part I played in getting this new treatment available to the people of Wales and around the world.”

Former art teacher Gwen reflects on what this new treatment means for her. 
“I recognise that without the pioneering clinical excellence of the oncology teams at Velindre and their support by the Welsh Government, people like me would be facing much bleaker outcomes.

Because of the dedication of the clinicians their research and ongoing trials, people like me with a primary or secondary cancer diagnosis can have a future ahead of us, we can have hope.

If this was me last year it wouldn’t have been available. But I need it now and it is available now and can hopefully make a world of difference to my prognosis. 

I’m really lucky because I’ve got the most supportive husband, children and their partners, extended family in Scotland and Wales, wonderful friends, and I am able to express my creativity with ceramics which is a massive passion for me.

What this new treatment can do for me, it can let me see my youngest son married next year, it can allow me to make the pots for his wedding and then who knows what else I might live to see.

But today I am concentrating on today. It’s not about dying from, it’s living with cancer and living well and that’s why I concentrate on every day and today is a good day!”

Velindre Cancer Charity is an important supporter of research at Velindre and the Director Paul Wilkins said,

“FAKTION’s success perfectly reflects the mission at the heart of our charity. We’re incredibly proud to have helped fund this life-changing treatment and to see it now benefiting patients here at Velindre.

“Congratulations to the outstanding team behind this breakthrough, it’s been inspiring to follow the journey, and even more moving to see it come full circle back to our service.”