Your voices heard in parliament!
As the only charity campaigning about the importance of symptoms in recognising ovarian cancer, Ovarian cancer action is delighted at two recent announcements:
The New National Awareness and Early Detection Initiative, announced in the Cancer Reform Strategy in December 07, will include ovarian cancer.
National Cancer Tsar Professor Mike Richards gave Ovarian cancer action his public reassurance during the Britain Against Cancer Conference, and this was confirmed through questions in the House of Commons, answered by Health Minister Ann Keen. Ovarian cancer action will be involved in that process, and will work with the Department of Health and others to agree messaging that can be widely used.
The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has announced that it will be developing clinical guidance on 'the recognition and initial management of ovarian cancer'. This is as a result of referral by the Secretary of State for Health, 'in line with national priorities for the NHS'.
Ovarian cancer action Chief Executive Annwen Jones says
"The voices of women telling their stories in parliament have been crucial in raising the issues about the high rates of late diagnosis."
"This is a major step forward in terms of the UK addressing the issue of symptoms in ovarian cancer, as other countries have done. We'd like to thank the many women who have attended our parliamentary events this year, and spoken formally and informally about their experiences, and to Sharon Hodgson MP who has championed our common cause in parliament.
These announcements give us a really important opportunity to make sure that ovarian cancer is once and for all no longer considered a silent killer: That women seek help appropriately and doctors have the best chance to recognise the importance of the very frequent and persistent symptoms."
Make sure ovarian cancer is no longer considered silent
Your involvement is crucial. Whilst timescales are still unclear for these projects (over the next 2 years) we would still like to hear from you as soon as possible. If you have a particular story about your experiences of symptoms and diagnosis of ovarian cancer, please send us brief details to info@ovarian.org.uk
Ovarian cancer action has this year with your help:
Sought and received Department of Health funding for symptoms awareness leaflets in GP surgeries in England (to be rolled out shortly)
Commissioned and publicised the first ever national survey of awareness of ovarian cancer and symptoms (Dr Foster Intelligence, Jan 07)
Held two parliamentary events, highlighting low levels of awareness and delays in diagnosis (Feb 07, Jul 07)
Presented evidence at a meeting of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer regarding awareness of symptoms (Jul 07)
Campaigned directly to highlight the importance of frequent and persistent symptoms in recognising ovarian cancer. This has formed a major part of our submissions relating to the development of the Cancer Reform Strategy (due to be published in December 07)
Appointed a Healthcare Projects Manager who is working with Primary Care Trusts and Cancer Networks, to improve awareness amongst health professionals, and develop collaborative projects aimed at improving the accuracy of referrals.