March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and to mark the occasion, local MP Maria Miller showed support for women across Basingstoke at an event in Westminster
Maria said, ‘I welcome the opportunity to raise awareness of ovarian cancer. Symptom awareness remains worryingly low in the UK which too often means the cancer goes undetected. As with all cancer, recognising ovarian cancer early on is vitally important and I urge any woman who is feeling bloated, is experiencing stomach pain, is always full, or needs to urinate more than usual, to contact their GP without delay.’
In the UK over 4,000 women die every year of this disease. Of the 7,495 women who are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, nearly two-thirds are diagnosed when the cancer has already spread. It is clear that more needs to be done to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Increased awareness will lead to more early diagnoses and will ultimately save lives.
Maria encourages anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer to connect with local support groups. Since 2012, The Pink Place has offered free therapies, support, and advice to omen in the Basingstoke area who have recently received a cancer diagnosis. Their services, which include massages, haircutting, counselling, and much more besides, are available to cancer sufferers at any stage of their diagnosis. Their sibling organisation, The Blue Place, offers similar support services to men.
For more information about either of these projects, please visit their website or call their support line on 07899970841.