As a black man I wasn't included in cancer stats

What started as a shoulder ache led to a whirlwind diagnosis of stage four cancer and a rare genetic mutation for Spike Elliott.

But his journey also highlighted a worrying ethnicity data gap in our health system.

It comes as research by one charity shows just how few patient records include ethnicity information in Wales.

The Welsh government said it was working to improve the diversity of data collection and health research.

One oncologist said it meant assumptions were made about how patients will respond, despite there being "clear differences" in how certain cancers affect different racial groups.

"I was given a life expectancy of 6 to 12 months. That was statistically supported.

"But I was alarmed when I was made aware that the statistics don't include the BAME (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic) community.

"Because what was my outcome then?"

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Source: BBC News, 21 June 2023