IT is a sad thing to meet people whose illnesses have worsened from lack of timely treatment.

This is especially troubling with late diagnosis and treatment of cancer. One in five of us are expected to suffer some form of cancer so it makes sense for the NHS to prepare.

Plaid Cymru is ashamed of Wales being bottom of the cancer league on Europe and has ways to change our fortunes. This week Plaid announced these plans.

They cover prevention, rapid diagnosis and treatment and one-to-one support during illness.

Healthy, happy, active wellnourished people get less cancer so this is the first thing to focus on. But cancer happens to the best of us so we must be ready.

They will build specialist centres in different parts of Wales providing accurate and fast diagnosis using molecular diagnostics and a range of the most advanced treatments.

Whether radio, robotic or laser surgery no matter where a person lives they will no longer have to leave Wales for treatment.

I know people who have already moved home from Pembrokeshire to England to get an early operation.

That is saddening. I met others whose parents decided not to come on holiday in Pembrokeshire because of the lack of nearby health care.

There is nothing more frustrating than waiting months for treatment while a cancer develops when it could have been nipped in the bud.

Early treatment is generally lighter, more successful, the suffering shorter, the travel less and the embarrassment of living in the worst country in Europe for cancer could be history.

I would love to see government putting in quality of effort to match the work of our medical staff and the amazing residents who raised £250,000 for Withybush cancer ward, not to mention the countless volunteers working all hours with cancer charities like MacMillans and Paul Sartori.

We deserve better than to have our own refugees leaving Wales for fear of their health.

VICKY MOLLER

(Plaid Cymru candidate, mid and west Wales region 2016)