A WOMAN who was diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer after being diagnosed with gallstones is backing a charity’s campaign for urgent action to be taken on ovarian cancer to save more lives.
Lorraine McKitterick, from Taunton, made a New Year’s Resolution to lose weight.
Within a few weeks, despite sticking to a strict diet, she was not losing any weight and was putting weight on.
At the same time, she noticed she would feel full quickly when eating and was experiencing pains in her abdomen.
Lorraine went to see her GP who referred her for an ultrasound, and it was later confirmed that she had gallstones.
Her surgeon requested a further scan to see things more clearly and it was then Lorraine’s cancer was detected.
A biopsy confirmed that Lorraine had ovarian cancer, stage III.
A week later she was in hospital undergoing major surgery to remove anything that had visible signs of cancer.
Lorraine, 60, said: “2019 changed my life completely. This September was three years since I was told that I had ovarian cancer and needed emergency, lifesaving surgery.
"I was flabbergasted.
“At 33 years old I had a hysterectomy and thought my fallopian tubes had been removed, so I didn’t think it was possible. However, for me, only my womb and cervix were removed, and the fallopian tubes and ovaries remained.
“I never thought that what was going on – the abdominal pain, feeling full quickly – would be anything sinister, not in a million years.”
In a report published this month by Target Ovarian Cancer, it revealed that there is an inherent lack of awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms with just one in five (21 per cent) women knowing that bloating is one of the key symptoms of ovarian cancer.
The charity says more needs to be done to prevent late diagnosis and suggests a government-backed national symptoms awareness campaign, among other things, could potentially lead to more women surviving and living well with ovarian cancer.
Annwen Jones OBE, chief executive of Target Ovarian Cancer, said: “While there has been some improvement in recent years, our report clearly shows that we now need action taken to secure progress which is faster, further, and fairer.
“We are hopeful that with the right targeted investment and backing from the government we can achieve this together, prolonging and saving lives.”
Another finding in Target Ovarian Cancer’s report, Pathfinder 2022: Faster, further, and fairer, was that there was a lack of provision of support available to those with a diagnosis.
It found that 60 per cent of those with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer reported it had a negative impact on their mental health, but the research showed that 54 per cent of respondents hadn’t been asked by anyone involved in their treatment about the impact on their mental health.
Lorraine, who took part in a two-year clinical trial, added: “Although my condition is stable, living with cancer has had an impact on my life in many different ways.
“I am really struggling with my mental health and believe there should be more support readily available.
“I have lost friends, as they haven’t known how to speak to me about my cancer, but I have also gained lots of friends through joining patient groups and finding people who have a similar story to tell.
“Seeing some of the statistics, I have been very frightened but I recently joined the Ovarian Cancer Community Facebook group, run by Target Ovarian Cancer which has been incredibly supportive.
“The people on there share their experiences, offer and ask for advice. A community like this can be really helpful. It’s knowing that you’re not alone.”
Target Ovarian Cancer believes progress is possible and that if urgent action is taken now to make diagnosis faster, further support available, and access to treatment fairer, there could be potential for more women to survive, live well with ovarian cancer and be supported from diagnosis and throughout treatment.
On Monday 14 November, the charity will be holding a parliamentary event to urge MPs to pledge to help make progress happen.
Target Ovarian Cancer is calling on the public to write to their local MPs to invite them to the event.
To find out more visit www.targetovariancancer.org
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