MP marks launch of Ovarian Cancer Month to urge women to be aware of symptoms

05/03/2008

Mike Hancock, MP (Lib Dem – Portsmouth South) is urging women to be aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Unfortunately survival rates for this cancer is low at 30% but this can increase to 95% if it is diagnosed early. This follows Mike meeting in Parliament with women who have had ovarian cancer to hear about the frequent symptoms that are often overlooked. Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, with 7000 new cases diagnosed each year in the UK. Survival rates are low at 30%, and have changed little in over 20 years. Diagnosis can be difficult because the symptoms are ones that most women will experience from time to time. However research shows that when these symptoms are frequent (more than 12 times a month), then ovarian cancer should be considered.

“It’s shocking to realise that most of the symptoms for ovarian cancer are around the tummy area, and not gynaecological,” said Mike.

“It often also takes considerable time before women and their GPs realise something is seriously wrong. I’d like to make sure that every woman in Portsmouth is made aware of the symptoms which occur very frequently, and that they are not afraid to visit their GP to discuss them. When treated early, survival is 95% but often women are not diagnosed until the cancer has spread.”

Mr Hancock was attending an awareness raising event, held by the charity Ovarian Cancer Action in Parliament. It heralds the launch of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in March, in which Ovarian Cancer Action are encouraging everyone to persuade the women in their lives to take time and listen to their bodies, and be aware of persistent symptoms and what they could possibly be. It forms part of their Love Women campaign.

The key symptoms which women should be aware of are

• Difficulty eating / feeling full

• Tummy pain/pelvic pain

• Bloating/increase in tummy size

• Increase in urgency and frequency of passing water If these occur more than 12 times a month, then a woman should ask their GP about ovarian cancer. Other very frequent symptoms can include

• Unexpected weight loss / unexpected weight gain

• Excessive tiredness

• Indigestion/nausea

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding

• Change in bowel habits

Notes

Key facts about ovarian cancer

• 7,000 women are diagnosed in the UK every year and 12 die every day

• UK survival rates have not improved in 20 years remaining low at 30%, compared with an increase to 80% for breast cancer

• Women with persistent, frequent, and sudden onset symptoms, often abdominal in nature, can download a symptom diary from www.ovarian.org.uk , fill it in over a 4 week period, take it to their GP and ask if they have considered ovarian cancer. This should be the case if treatment for other conditions is not effective

• 2/3 of women are unaware of any of the symptoms of ovarian cancer and often confuse it with cervical cancer

• Ovarian cancer will be included in the new National Awareness and Early Detection Initiative which was recently announced as part of the Cancer Reform Strategy

• The good news is that if diagnosed at early stage women have up to a 95% chance of survival, but alarmingly many women do not know what symptoms to look out for

• There is not yet any prospect of a national screening programme. Until there’s a test, awareness is best.

About Ovarian cancer action:

• Ovarian cancer action is dedicated to improving survival rates for ovarian cancer through funding research, raising awareness and giving a voice.

• In 2006, they opened the Ovarian cancer action research unit, which is the first research centre of its kind in the UK. The unit is collaboration between Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, The Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research and it looks at fundamental biology, early detection and new and improved treatments.

• Ovarian cancer action has appointed the UK’s first Healthcare Project Manager dedicated to working with GPs and hospitals to try and aid earlier detection and understanding of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

• For more details on the Love Women campaign please visit http://www.ovarian.org.uk