I’m pleased to lend my support to Target Ovarian Cancer’s campaign to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
As the SNP’s spokesperson for Health and Social Care at Westminster, I attended a recent parliamentary event organised by the Charity to highlight the worryingly small percentage of women who could name the symptoms of this illness which include persistent bloating, pelvic or abdominal pain, loss of appetite and urinary symptoms.
Target Ovarian Cancer are keen to highlight their three key asks as part of this campaign which includes a government funded awareness campaign so everyone knows the symptoms and their family history, a commitment to strengthen diagnostic testing to ensure women at greatest risk are diagnosed earlier, and the creation of a long-term sustainable plan to ensure that everyone can access the best possible treatment no matter where they live.
Around 600 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year in Scotland and too often women soldier on with pain and discomfort or are unaware of what symptoms to look out for in order to seek healthcare advice. In my constituency alone, 74% of women are diagnosed at a late stage where outcomes are likely to be worse so it’s vital that we ensure women are aware of the symptoms of this cancer and empowered to act earlier in seeking a diagnosis.
This is why I am keen to support Target Ovarian Cancer’s calls for sustained investment in a symptom awareness campaign with information not just on the kinds of symptoms involved but also key risk factors like age and family history.
I’m pleased that here in Scotland we have the shortest diagnostic pathway in the UK as the only nation to offer dual testing, with the CA125 blood test and ultrasound offered at the same time. Going forward, I know that the Scottish Government’s Minister for Women’s Health, Jenni Minto MSP, has worked tirelessly to ensure that women’s health is a key priority and that much work has been done to improve diagnosis rates.
This Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month I want to ensure all women in my constituency understand what to look out for in terms of symptoms and to seek advice from their GP if they have any concerns. The sooner this cancer is found, the better the survival rates. Target Ovarian Cancer are doing important work to ensure that women’s pain is taken seriously and, vitally, acted upon with haste.
Note: Photograph attached shows (I to r): Seamus Logan MP with Target Ovarian Cancer staff members Sbba Siddique, Natalie Wild, and Reeta Kumar.
