Farron calls for full Ovarian cancer awareness campaign

Speaking in a debate in Parliament today South Lakes MP, Tim Farron, called on the Government to include Ovarian Cancer in its campaign to raise awareness of different forms of Cancer. Tim used the example of his Mum who died from the disease in 2004 aged 54 after receiving a late diagnosis.

Ovarian cancer is the most deadly of the gynaecological cancers and nearly four times more common than cervical cancer. Every year approximately 6,500 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the UK with almost 4,400 women dying of the disease annually.

Despite ovarian cancer being the fourth most common cause of cancer death amongst women (behind breast, lung and bowel) and despite evidence relating to lack awareness, rates of late diagnosis and delays in diagnosis, it is not currently included in the Department for Health's campaign to raise awareness of cancer symptoms.

In a speech in Westminster Hall, Tim called on the government to meet with campaign organisations such as Target Ovarian Cancer to discuss the ways in which the Government can improve awareness amongst women and GPs to try and aid earlier recognition of this disease in which 75% of female sufferers are diagnosed too late.

The Health Minister Paul Burstow agreed to Tim's request to meet with the All Party Group on Ovarian Cancer and with the Ovarian Cancer charities to discuss a strategy for reducing the number of ovarian cancer deaths each year.

Commenting after the debate Tim said, "Ovarian cancer is a terrible disease which I have personal experience of as my mum died from it in 2004. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2002 and one of the 75% of women who are diagnosed far too late, leading to 500 unnecessary deaths each year - a statistic that hasn't shown any significant improvement in almost a decade.

"It is vital that the government now works with the ovarian cancer charities to tackle the problem of lack of awareness so that we can start to make real improvements in rates of early diagnosis which will help to lead to much increased rates of survival. I'm delighted that in response to my request in the debate, the Minister will now meet us to discuss a strategy to tackle the disease"