News
MPs assess OC treatment
Government officials met in late February to look at funding and treatment issues specifically related to ovarian cancer.
The parliamentary briefing brought together top ovarian cancer consultants and MPs who were urged to lobby ministers to review the latest evidence on the best treatment for ovarian cancer. Sixty-four MPs signed an early-day motion calling for "equitable care for all women with ovarian cancer", and national and local action to give women equal access to optimal treatment around the country is expected to continue.
This House of Commons briefing served as a catalyst for the development of a new all-party group on cancer, which is charged with looking at the wide range of issues relating to cancer services and treatments. In the first session of the group, consistent and optimal treament standards for ovarian cancer were voiced.
Ovacome has been invited to attend all these sessions, and will continue to be, so that we can keep you informed on the issues and how they are being addressed by the Government.
Helen Ellis - Fundraising Ball
Helen Ellis, who sadly lost her mother to ovarian cancer earlier this year, is organising a ball in her mother’s memory on 7 November 1998.
Screening Centre opens
A new screening centre has opened in London, based in the consulting rooms at the Portland Hospital in Central London. The Centre aims to provide a unique screening service run by consultants and specialist nurses with specific expertise in gynaecology, breast care, genetics and cancer. Services offered include advice about family history, counselling about cancer and ovarian screening.
An initial consultation with a clinical nurse specialist is £50.
If you would like more information please call Sara Barnett on 0171 390 8458 or send a fax on 0171 390 8446 or alternatively write to: The Women’s Screening Centre, 214 Great Portland Street, The Portland Consulting Rooms, London W1N 6AH.
Alex Whates
Mufti Day
Kelsey Park School in Beckenham recently decided to have a mufti day (a non-uniform day to you and me). All the houses have their own charities so I decided that the non-teaching staff should have one too, and I thought "there is only one and that’s Ovacome".
Considering there are only 10 of us we did very well.
One of the strangest things that I have found working in a boys’ school is how much even the toughest and most lively boys find it strange that I lost my mum through cancer. They look at you and say "Wot, Miss, you ain’t got a mum?" and their whole face changes, then they say "I can’t imagine life without my mum".
Ovacome is a very important charity, not just for sufferers but also for their families and friends, and the information it passes on to us is vital. I find the information on screening available very useful, as both my mum and aunt died of ovarian cancer.
Amanda Susini
Beckenham, Kent
P.S. Keep up the good work and Kelsey Park non-teaching staff will keep supporting you in mufti days!
Amanda kindly sent us a cheque for £10 which was raised at the day: what a great way of raising money!
