MP backs cancer campaign

3:42pm Monday 24th March 2008

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A NEW campaign to help make women more aware of the dangers of ovarian cancer is being backed by Bolton North-east MP David Crausby.

If caught early, the survival rate for women with the cancer is 95 percent, but it can be difficult to diagnose and in the UK survival rates are as low as 30 percent, having changed little in the last 20 years.

Each year, 7,000 women in the UK are identified as having ovarian cancer. Most are not diagnosed until the cancer has spread, with 12 dying from the illness every day.

Mr Crausby was one of several MPs who attended an awareness raising event in Westminster run by the charity Ovarian Cancer Action as part of their "Love Women" campaign to encourage people to learn the symptoms of the illness.

"I was shocked to realise that most of the symptoms for ovarian cancer are around the tummy area and not gynaecological," said Mr Crausby.

"Also that it often takes considerable time before women and their GPs realise something is seriously wrong.

"I'd like to make sure that every woman in Bolton is made aware of the symptoms which occur very frequently, and that they are no afraid to visit their GP to discuss them."

Unfortunately, the early symptoms are ones which most women experience from time to time, but if they are occurring more than 12 times a month then the possibility of ovarian cancer should be considered.

Key symptoms are: Difficulty eating/feeling full Tummy/pelvic pain Bloating or increase in tummy size An increase in the urgency and frequency of passing water.

Other frequent symptoms can include unexpected weight loss or gain, excessive tiredness, indigestion or nausea, abnormal vaginal bleeding and a change in bowel habits.

For more information people can visit the charity's website www.ovarian.org.uk