Individual Post

POSTED By : DESTINATION NEWRY
Post Date : 22 Jun 2017 11:59 AM
Ovarian Cancer Awareness, Know the Symptoms - Mary McCartan
I'm a member of the Square Wheels cycling club based in the Moy and myself and some of the club members will be cycling around the coastline of Northern Ireland and Donegal to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.  
 
In Northern Ireland, approximately 180 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year, and 120 women lose their lives each year. When a woman is diagnosed at the earliest stage, her chance of surviving ovarian cancer for five years of more doubles from just 46 per cent to more than 90 per cent, and knowing the symptoms of ovarian cancer can save lives.  
 
The symptoms of ovarian cancer are: 
 
Increased abdominal size/persistent bloating
Difficulty eating/feeling full/vague indigestion
Pelvic or abdominal pain, dragging sensation in lower abdomen or side
Needing to wee more urgently or more often
Other symptoms can include unexpected weight loss, change in bowel habits, and extreme fatigue. 
 
In NI we do not have  a dedicated support network for those effected by the disease. Most women and their family have to deal with the diagnoses in isolation. Most do not know anyone else with the disease and this can make coping with it even more difficult.
 
Since starting my Facebook page @beovariancanceraware  and starting to have conversation with people about the campaign I have heard stories of so many women who have lost their lives to the disease. What has come out of those conversations is the feeling of isolation for the sufferer and their families. Sometimes when we have a disease we just need someone to talk to who is going through the same experience and understand how it feels.  Families are not always able to offer that support and often need support themselves.  
 
Through the Facebook page I am hoping to be able to put people in contact with each other so that we can grow and develop a support network and to raise money for research into the disease.
 
Please know the symptoms. Hopefully you will never need to them for yourself but you could save the life of a daughter, sister, mother, best friend...by recognizing the symptoms and helping her get treatment early. EARLY DIAGNOSIS SAVES LIVES. 
 
Please visit my facebook page @beovariancanceraware and share it with all the women you know.  Don't keep this lifesaving information to yourself ...tell everyone. 
 
www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/mary-mccartan 
Help raise £5000 to help provide a support network for women and families affected by ovarian cancer and to support research into this devastating disease.
www.justgiving.com
Weʼre raising money to help provide a support network for women and families affected by ovarian cancer and to support research into this devastating disease. Support this JustGiving Crowdfunding Page.