Staff at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are raising awareness of the most common type of cancer in women for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.
To raise awareness of this event, the gynae-oncology specialist nurses and Macmillan team at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals have created a dedicated information stand at the main entrance to the Royal Preston Hospital site. The team will be on hand on Tuesday 26th March to speak to visitors and give out more information about ovarian cancer.
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month takes place throughout March and aims to raise awareness of the illness that affects approximately 7,300 women each year.
Most women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed when their cancer has spread, but earlier diagnosis means that ovarian cancer is easier to treat and treatment will give better results. Knowing the symptoms of ovarian cancer is therefore hugely important. Common symptoms include bloating that does not come and go, abdominal and pelvic pain, feeling full quickly when eating and changes in urination and bowel habits. It is important that ladies that have these symptoms persistently or frequently visit their GP for assessment.
Michelle Davis, Macmillan Information and Support Officer at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals, said: “The Macmillan Information Support team has displayed posters and information around the hospitals prior to the month to educate women about the symptoms of ovarian cancer and how to spot them. We have a large selection of information available on ovarian cancer for people to obtain from us throughout the month.”