Brora woman at House of Commons for launch of ovarian cancer awareness campaign
A Brora woman with ovarian cancer was at the House of Commons on Monday to help launch a campaign aimed at reducing the death toll from the disease.
Retired care assistant Sarah Boyd (60), Moray Terrace, made the trip to London on behalf of the charity Target Ovarian Cancer.
Constituency MP John Thurso was also present at the launch of the campaign which is being called ‘Let’s Talk.’
Ovarian cancer causes more than 4,000 deaths in the UK each year, often because it is often too far advanced by the time symptoms become obvious. But, if caught early, up to nine out of ten women can survive.
Target Ovarian Cancer wants the government to put in place a national ovarian cancer awareness programme so that women and health care professionals are better aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.
The charity is also asking MPs to end what they claim is a ‘postcode lottery’ with some areas of the country
They are also urging GPs to carry out simple diagnostic tests as a matter of course on women who present with symptoms which could be ovarian cancer.
’As part of its Let’s Talk campaign, Target Ovarian Cancer is also highlighting a "postcode lottery" in survival rates across the UK and a gap in survival between the UK and many parts of Europe.
Speaking at the campaign launch, Miss Boyd said much more could be done: "I’ve told my MP that I want to see him support Target Ovarian Cancer’s call for a national awareness campaign," she said.
"If people don’t know to go to their GP and GPs don’t know about the symptoms of ovarian cancer, how will women be diagnosed in time to save their lives?
"New, official statistics show that late diagnosis is a major cause of Britain’s poor survival rate. Ovarian cancer is the fourth biggest cancer killer of women."
The lives of 500 women could be saved every year if they received an earlier diagnosis for ovarian cancer, according to campaigners. Annwen Jones, chief executive of Target Ovarian Cancer, said: "Over the last few years, we have taken decisive action to break the vicious cycle of poor awareness, low survival and chronic underfunding.
"Today, with the launch of Let’s Talk, we are starting a new movement to persuade the Government to take further action to improve diagnosis."
