Shropshire Council and Lingen Davies raise awareness of ovarian cancer
March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month, and Shropshire Council are joined by Lingen Davies Cancer Fund to highlight the signs and symptoms of a disease that many are unfamiliar with.
Know the signs of ovarian cancer and check with your GP if you are unsure
On Tuesday 28 March 2023, officers from Shropshire Council’s wellbeing outreach team will join representatives from Lingen Davies at an event in Asda car park, Old Potts Way, Shrewsbury, to share information with the public and encourage people to start conversations about ovarian cancer with their friends and families.
Ovarian cancer is most common in people over the age of 50. Common signs of ovarian cancer can easily be ignored, as they are similar to symptoms of the menopause. They can also be signs of less serious conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, ovarian cysts and polycystic ovary syndrome.
The four main symptoms of ovarian cancer are:
- Persistent stomach pain
- Persistent bloating
- Difficulty eating / feeling full more quickly
- Needing to wee more frequently.
Other, less common, symptoms to look out for include:
- Indigestion
- Back pain
- Changes in bowel habits (going more often or a lot less)
- Unexplained weight loss
- Post-menopausal vaginal bleeding
- Extreme tiredness.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it doesn’t mean that you have ovarian cancer, but it is always recommended that you speak to a doctor and share your concerns.
Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for public health, adult social care and communities, said:-
“The national campaign to raise awareness of ovarian cancer is a great opportunity for us to start a conversation with our own friends and families. Make sure you are familiar with the signs and symptoms, and don’t forget to get checked by a GP if you are worried about anything. The wellbeing outreach team and our partners at Lingen Davies do a great job of sharing this message with the community, and I am sure their joint event in Shrewsbury next week will be useful to many.”
Miranda Ashwell, LiveLife Project Lead at Lingen Davies, said this was an important opportunity to highlight cancer and encourage people to become more aware of the signs and symptoms of cancer:-
“Current statistics show that one in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime. Lingen Davies’ LiveLife Cancer Awareness work is dedicated to talking to everyone throughout our community to promote awareness about the signs and symptoms of cancer and encourage people to take action if they have any concerns. Getting an early diagnosis is key to generating the best outcomes and treatment options.
“Lingen Davies has a long history supporting cancer patients at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital’s Lingen Davies Cancer Centre. We are also pushing to raise awareness throughout our region and help drive cancer prevention wherever possible.”
If you have been affected by ovarian cancer, or are worried about symptoms, there are a number of excellent online resources you can take a look at for support:
Ovarian Cancer Information | Lingen Davies Cancer Fund
Target Ovarian Cancer | The ovarian cancer charity
Ovarian Cancer Charity | UK’s Support Charity for Ovarian Cancer | Ovacome
