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Government acts on Ovarian Cancer
Posted: July 16, 2012
Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland is delighted to report confirmation has been received from the Department of Health that ovarian cancer will be included in its symptoms awareness programme, Be Clear on Cancer. Annwen Jones, Chief Executive of Target Ovarian Cancer, writes:
“This is a hugely important development and one that we believe will genuinely save lives. Currently only 3% of UK women are very confident of spotting a symptom of ovarian cancer. By raising awareness of symptoms, the Department of Health aim to improve early diagnosis, and save the lives of at least 500 women a year.
As you know, this is something that Target Ovarian Cancer has been campaigning for since the beginning, and so many of you have been so involved in this successful outcome. From those of you who have met your MPs and campaigned locally, to those who have attended our parliamentary events and the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on ovarian cancer meetings, to those who have taken part in press, TV and radio interviews – we are overjoyed to have your efforts acknowledged with this news.
We’re also extremely grateful to the APPG on ovarian cancer, which has been instrumental in securing this progress, with members taking up the challenge to grow support within parliament. They held a debate last autumn, and subsequently met with the Care Services Minister Paul Burstow MP. Indeed he chose the AGM of the group to announce that ovarian cancer was now being included in the Be Clear on Cancer programme. Three initial pilot campaigns will take place in cancer networks, early in 2013, and it is then hoped that the campaign can be escalated to a regional and then national level.
You can read more about this story here. Please do join in our delight and share this news across your networks, as it is a huge milestone for women with ovarian cancer.”