Liverpool Community Health (LCH) NHS Trust is supporting a month long campaign to help to raise awareness on how to spot the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer in March.
To coincide with Women’s Health month a series of community roadshows are planned throughout Liverpool, led by health promotion specialists to provide members of the public with guidance and advice.
The roadshows take place at the following locations:
- 5 March , 11.00am – 2.00pm, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital
- 8 March International Women’s Day Health Event at Park Road Sports Centre 10.00am -1.00pm
- 10 March Road show at Mere Lane Health Centre 9.00am– 11:30am
- 11 March Road show Yewtree Health Centre 9.00am– 11:30am
The team are also working with local workplaces to help highlight the issue.
The campaign aims to educate women on how to be aware of the most common signs of Ovarian Cancer, this could include feeling bloated on most days for a period of 3 weeks or longer.
There are over 7116 new cases diagnosed in the UK each year, making it the fifth most common cancer. Women of all ages are at risk; however ovarian cancer becomes much more common as women get older.
Women are more at risk if they are:
- aged over 50
- overweight or obese
- smokers, which increases the risk of developing certain types of ovarian cancer
- using hormone replacement therapy (HRT).The longer women take HRT, the more the risk may increase
- diagnosed with endometriosis
- found to have an inherited faulty gene such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 / family history of ovarian or breast cancer
If you think you might be at risk you should make an appointment with your Doctor.
There is no specific screening test for ovarian cancer, but if you have symptoms your Doctor may take a blood sample (CA125) which is a protein that becomes raised with some pelvic conditions and also refer you for an ultrasound scan.
Maureen Sayer, Health Promotion Specialist for Liverpool Community Health explains:”It is really important for women to know what signs and symptoms could be associated with ovarian cancer.”
“This could include feeling bloated most days, feeling full quickly, loss of appetite, pelvic or stomach pain, needing to pee urgently or more frequently than normal, changes in bowel habit, extreme fatigue and unexplained weight loss”
“Detecting cancer early makes it more treatable, so seeing your Doctor quickly may save your life. You can also reduce your chances of developing ovarian cancer by stopping smoking, staying active and eating healthily”
Further information about Ovarian Cancer please visit: http://www.nhs.uk/be-clear-on-cancer/ovarian-cancer or www.liverpoolcommunityhealth.nhs.uk .
