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Ovarian Cancer Action

This month's Lifeline appeal is on behalf of Ovarian Cancer Action, a charity campaigning to increase awareness and fund scientific research into the disease.

9 minutes

Last on

Mon 1 Feb 2021 14:50

Ovarian Cancer Action

Ovarian Cancer Action

Action. One third of our name and 100% of what we鈥檙e about.

Ovarian Cancer Action is working towards a world where no woman dies of ovarian cancer.聽

One woman dies in the UK from ovarian cancer every two hours. While other cancers have achieved major improvements in treatment outcomes, ovarian cancer continues to go unrecognised, underfunded, and misdiagnosed. We鈥檙e determined to change that.

As an organisation we campaign to increase awareness and improve understanding of symptoms among the public and GPs. The symptoms of ovarian cancer can easily be attributed to other, less serious conditions such as IBS, or even to the menopause. A misdiagnosis can potentially be very dangerous, as the sooner ovarian cancer is diagnosed the better the chance of survival.

Over the last fifteen years, our efforts to fund and facilitate the very best ovarian cancer research have achieved dramatic results. But, of course, there鈥檚 more work to be done.聽

Ovarian Cancer Action researchers are working hard to accelerate progress in three vital areas: preventing the disease, diagnosing it early, and developing effective, personalised treatments.聽

From developing a screening tool to protect women in the future, to creating kinder treatments to benefit women living with ovarian cancer today, our scientists are determined to make ovarian cancer a survivable disease.




Julia Bradbury

Julia Bradbury

I鈥檓 honoured to be supporting this appeal for Ovarian Cancer Action, the UK鈥檚 ovarian cancer research charity.

Here in the UK, a woman dies of ovarian cancer every two hours. Yet most of us haven鈥檛 even heard of the disease, let alone its symptoms, which are often mistaken for less serious conditions such as IBS or even the menopause.

Ovarian Cancer Action runs innovative public awareness campaigns as well as funding vital research into preventing the disease, diagnosing it as early as possible, and discovering kinder and more effective treatments. Improvements in each of these areas will transform the lives of women today and for generations to come.

Covid-19 quickly led to paused cancer treatments and a worrying drop in diagnoses. But the earlier a woman is diagnosed, the better her chance of survival. Ovarian Cancer Action needs your support now more than ever.

By making a donation today you can help fund research, raise awareness and save lives.


Rosie

Rosie

Rosie, a retired pharmacist from Hertfordshire, unknowingly inherited the BRCA1 gene mutation from her mum, who died of cancer when Rosie was very young. Her aunt was diagnosed with cancer too, this time ovarian, but it wasn鈥檛 until her younger sister was also diagnosed with the disease that Rosie was offered genetic testing.

Within eight months of her sister鈥檚 diagnosis, Rosie, her two sisters and her daughter had all tested positive for faulty BRCA genes and been diagnosed with cancer.聽

Around 15% of cases of ovarian cancer are linked to BRCA mutations 鈥 this equates to over 1,000 women a year whose lives could potentially be saved. Yet 75% of people have not heard of BRCA genes.聽

"If only I had known about testing, then my family and I would have been saved so much pain and heartache and the NHS would have saved a small fortune in treatment costs. Hopefully the next generation will have the advantage of genetic testing and advice.鈥


Suzie

Suzie

Suzie was just 25 when she was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of ovarian cancer. At first, the Romford actress chalked up her tiredness and feeling bloated to burning the candle at both ends, but soon her persistent symptoms became hard to ignore.

In the last few years, Suzie has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy and three different surgeries. Now, there are no treatment options left.聽

Suzie is trying to raise enough money to try an innovative immunotherapy treatment that is not available on the NHS, whilst relying on research to deliver new treatments to help her survive.

鈥淥varian Cancer Action is like a bit of a beam of hope for me. Although the research that's going on at the moment may not necessarily help me, I just hope that it can really pave the way for women that are facing cancer.鈥


Laura

Laura

Primary school teacher Laura Samuels was diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer when she was 27 years old. Originally, she was misdiagnosed with IBS, despite carrying a hereditary risk of developing ovarian cancer.

After her original misdiagnosis, Laura was diagnosed in A&E and quickly underwent chemotherapy and radical surgery. Laura has now been cancer free for two and a half years and is determined to raise awareness of ovarian cancer and its symptoms through her popular blog 鈥楩inding Cyril鈥.聽

"What has happened to me at 27 is very rare, but it can happen. We must continue to support Ovarian Cancer Action to allow them to continue doing the amazing research that they do. They need our support now more than ever.鈥


Credits

Role Contributor
Series Producer Hardeep Giani
Director Charlotte Denton
Editor Rob Unsworth

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