Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

In the UK 7000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer per year.  11 women in the UK die every day from the disease.

The disease typically affects women aged over 50, with the risk increasing with age.  Another significant risk factor is also a family history of the disease.

The most common symptoms of ovarian cancer are:

• feeling constantly bloated
• a swollen stomach/abdomen
• discomfort in your stomach/abdomen or pelvic area
• feeling full quickly when eating, or loss of appetite
• needing to urinate more often or more urgently than normal

Awareness of ovarian cancer is low and two thirds of women only receive their diagnosis once the cancer has already spread.  This means that survival rates are typically much lower than with other forms of cancer.

The 1^st of March marks the start of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.  The UK’s leading ovarian cancer charity, Target Ovarian Cancer UK are organising a number of awareness and fund-raising events including “Shout Out Loud” which involves sharing symptoms on social media, “Bake Some Noise” which involves organising bake sales at work and “The Big Colour Clash” which involves wearing your boldest and brightest clothes on Friday 9^th March.  For more information and to get involved visit their website– www.targetovariancancer.org.uk

Target Ovarian Cancer UK work to improve early diagnosis, fund life-saving research and provide support to women with ovarian cancer.

We at Williamsons know only too well the difficulties a late diagnosis can cause.  We have acted for a number of clients in our clinical negligence department, who have suffered avoidable harm as a result of late diagnosis of cancer.  One of our current cases involves a lady who developed symptoms of abdominal pain, bloating, sickness and constipation in August 2011.  She attended her GP and underwent investigations but despite a number of CT scans, her cancer was not diagnosed until 2 years later.  As a result of this delay, our client’s cancer spread, meaning that by the time it was discovered in 2013, surgery was no longer an option and the cancer is now incurable.

If you have been affected by a late diagnosis of cancer, and have suffered as a consequence, please contact our Clinical Negligence Department at Williamsons Solicitors on 01482 323697 to discuss your concerns with one of our experienced members of staff.