The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) Women’s Committee is marking International Women’s Day (Saturday 8 March 2008) by urging working women to be aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.
The Women’s Committee is deeply concerned at the survival rates of this hidden cancer, and is distributing posters and leaflets to all trade unions in Scotland encouraging them to make their women members aware of Ovarian cancer.
Speaking today (Saturday 8 March 2008) STUC Women’s Committee Chairperson Cheryl Gedling said:
“Every day 12 women in the UK die from ovarian cancer. Whilst survival rates in Scotland, are marginally higher than in the UK as a whole, the STUC is concerned that most women are diagnosed once the cancer has already spread”.
Cheryl Gedling added:
“The STUC Women’s Committee is raising awareness amongst working women of key persistent symptoms of the disease, such as pelvic and tummy pain with bloating, needing to go to the loo more frequently, and difficulty eating or feeling full. By distributing Ovarian Cancer Action information, we hope to raise greater awareness of the disease to enable earlier diagnosis and treatment to save lives”.
Survival rates for other cancers including breast cancer and bowel cancer have improved significantly over the past 20 years. Ovarian Cancer Action say that the UK survival rate for ovarian cancer is amongst the lowest in the western world. ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Ovarian cancer 5 year survival rates in Scotland - 38.1% (Scottish Health Statistics IDS Scotland)
Ovarian cancer 5 year survival rates in the UK – 30%
March is designated ovarian cancer month. www.ovarian.org.uk
For further information contact:
Mary Senior tel: 0141 337 8100