Creating Cancer Caring Communities Blog - 10th March 2023

March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

https://ovarian.org.uk/march-ovarian-cancer-awareness-month/

Don’t overlook the ovaries

There is no screening programme for ovarian cancer

Ovacome: The UK's ovarian cancer charity providing expert support and information for anyone affected by ovarian cancer. Included is a short video on the signs and symptoms; a downloadable BEAT diary to track your symptoms to help you explain to your GP (Bloating, Eating difficulty, Abdominal or pelvic pain, Toilet changes etc.)

If you are worried about your symptoms, if your symptoms continue, or if they are worsening, book an appointment with your doctor straight away. The Ovacome support service is available at 0800 008 7054 or at support@ovacome.org.uk to talk through any queries or concerns you may have.

Services include dedicated phone lines to provide support and information in Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, Polish, Punjabi and Urdu.

Ovacome support for LGBTQ people: https://www.ovacome.org.uk/support-for-lgbtq-people

 Macmillan Cancer Support list the symptoms of ovarian cancer:

• long-lasting bloated or swollen tummy
• feeling full quickly when you eat
• loss of appetite
• pain in the lower tummy area or back
• peeing (passing urine) more often than usual
• needing to pee urgently (feeling like you cannot hold on).
• unexplained or extreme tiredness (fatigue)

Other symptoms may include:

• a change in your normal bowel function (diarrhoea or constipation)
• weight loss for no obvious reason
• vaginal bleeding after the menopause.

Some of these symptoms can be caused by other conditions. If you are ever unsure, it is very important that you get any symptoms checked by your GP.

Ovarian cancer can affect women, transgender men and people assigned female at birth, as it can affect anyone with ovaries and fallopian tubes.

The support group of the week:

Cornwall Gynae Cancer Support Group

Contact Emma Kent - 01872 252037 and emma.kent3@nhs.net

Emma says: We still have an online peer support page Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/groups/ovariancancersupportgroup

and as always, all our Gynaecology patients have open access Mon-Fri to myself and my colleague, Emma Dyer, here in the office for advice and support using the phone and email above.

You can also contact The Cove Macmillan Information Centre, Royal Cornwall Hospital, Truro TR1 3LJ.  Our phone lines remain open from 9 am to 5.00 pm weekdays on 01872 256363 or contact us via email at thecove@nhs.net for support and information relating to your cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery. Or drop into the café on weekdays between 9.30 and 4 pm.

The weather is improving…..time to be getting out and about

Here’s a creative community initiative!

The Bike Network

https://www.facebook.com/thebikenetworkcharity/

The Bike Network gifts bicycles & cycle equipment to cancer patients, survivors & their direct family members to improve physical & mental health during & after treatment.

Who knows where the gift of a bicycle might take someone?

Wadebridge Cancer Cafe

This month we are trying to raise awareness of a fantastic Cancer Support Group in Wadebridge. If you have been affected by cancer, please pop along and join a welcoming cancer support cafe. Sessions are held on the 2nd & 4th Friday of the month at Wadebridge Community Hub (John Betjemen Centre).

Contact Jan Howells on the number below.

That's it for this week, see you next week...