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Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, dedicated to spreading awareness to the disease once dubbed ‘the silent killer’.
Merseynewslive spoke to Hilary Bates, 63, from Buckinghamshire, admin of the Facebook group, Ovarian Cancer UK.
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She also commented on the infamous name of the disease, she said: “The term “silent killer” is outdated, and the current thinking is ‘It whispers, so listen.’”
Hilary was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer when she was 48. She believes on spreading awareness of the disease as: “It’s important to share because too many people (women included) don’t even know that it exists and because family history is extremely important and Lynch syndrome can increase the risk of ovarian cancer,” Hilary emphasised:
It’s also really important for people who are recently diagnosed to know that there ARE long term survivors The group was set up as a support “ “ outlet for those presenting symptoms of the disease, as well as those already in their battle to beat Ovarian Cancer. They use the platform as a place to hold open conversations and support one another. Hilary emphasised the importance of identifying your symptoms, she said: “Know your body. Don’t dismiss symptoms as ‘one of those things’.” The charity Target Ovarian Cancer recommend not using the term
Ending the stigma of ovarian cancer
ELLIE ROCHELL looks into why we should no longer refer to the disease as ‘the silent killer’
Image Credit: Unsplash
Image Credit: Unsplash
Image Credit: Unsplash
‘silent killer’, as it merely reinforces perceptions that the symptoms of ovarian cancer can’t be spotted until later stages. Thery said: “We want to increase early diagnosis, in order to save lives, and therefore need to change these perceptions.”
Some common symptoms may include (but are not limited to) bloating (constant, not coming and going), eating difficulties (feeling full quickly), abdominal pain and toilet issues (Bladder irritability, Bowel problems, either constipation or diarrhoea or both).
However, Ovarian Cancer is most common in middle-aged women, Hilary said: “Are often very busy with work, teenage offspring and/or elderly parents, or older women, who just expect to feel unwell a lot of the time.” Meaning that these symptoms can often be disregarded, leading the cancer to spread to a later stage of development.
Target Ovarian Cancer said: “Because it is diagnosed late, the disease kills 3 in 10 women in the twelve months after diagnosis.”
Another spokesperson from Ovarian Cancer UK said: “A symptoms diary to show the GP can be very useful.” These can be found through official organisations such as Ovacome.
Those presenting these symptoms are urged to visit their GP and ask for a CA125 blood test and an ultrasound scan to rule out ovarian cancer.
Although, women experiencing these symptoms can be often turned away from these tests. Hilary said: “If the GP refuses these tests, she should ask for the reason for refusal to be recorded in her notes (this often gets some action).”
Hilary told Merseynewslive: “The UK has a worse survival rate for ovarian cancer than any other European country. Resources are stretched to the limit, especially at the GP level.”
Annwen Jones OBE, Chief Executive of Target Ovarian Cancer, said: “Knowing the symptoms is crucial for everyone. We need to make sustained and large-scale government-backed symptom campaigns a reality. Progress is possible. If we do this, fewer people will be diagnosed late, fewer will need invasive treatment, and ultimately, fewer will die needlessly from ovarian cancer.”
