‘Enough is enough’: 20,000 signatures urge Government to take action on ovarian cancer

More than 20,000 people have signed a letter which was hand-delivered to Downing Street demanding the Government take action on ovarian cancer.

According to Cancer Research figures, 11 people die a day from ovarian cancer.

The Target Ovarian Cancer campaign group marched to Number 10 following research that revealed that four out of five women could not name the key symptom of ovarian cancer – persistent bloating.

Della Ogunleye, 60, from Wimbledon, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2019, nine years after she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, and attended the open letter hand in.

When she began experiencing abdominal pain and bloating a few years later, Ms Ogunleye claimed she went back and forth to her GP several times and was sent away with prune juice. Eventually she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Ms Ogunleye has finished chemotherapy and is now taking the ovarian cancer targeted drug olaparib.

She said: “Target Ovarian Cancer amplifies our voices. Together, we can reach places and have conversations that we may not be able to achieve alone. The saying goes, if you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together.

“We need greater awareness of symptoms now. By standing together our voices will be louder.”

Paramjit Hunjan, 68, from Sutton, also attended the letter hand-in and is passionate about raising awareness and campaigning for early diagnosis after his wife Ravi died of ovarian cancer in 2017.

Ravi experienced pain in her abdomen, bloating, wind, constipation and lack of appetite.

Not familiar with these symptoms she dismissed them until they worsened, and after demanding further investigation by her GP she was diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer.

Paramjit said: “Campaigning for a change with Target Ovarian Cancer means that it could help stop destruction of thousands of families every year. No one should have to endure what I and others like me have gone through.

“Until some sort of screening tool is in place for early detection, the symptoms awareness campaigns must continue to prevent precious lives being lost.

“We must also stop the postcode lottery. All women despite where they live, must be entitled to same level of treatment and care as everyone else.”

“Our MPs are the only voices we have at our disposal who can convince the Government to bring about the change and investment we so desperately need.”

Target Ovarian Cancer said there is no current effective screening process for ovarian cancer, so knowing the symptoms – persistent bloating, abdominal pain, feeling full quickly, and needing to wee more urgently – is essential to survival and early diagnosis.

Pictured top: The Target Ovarian Cancer campaigners outside Downing Street Picture: Target Ovarian Cancer