Put health matters first, women urged
A group of women who have had gynaecological cancer will on Wednesday launch a campaign to help others.
Mrs Cherry Davis (61) from Stubton is a founder member of Nottinghamshire Gynaecological Oncology Support and Help Group. It was set up just over a year ago aimed at women who have had one of four gynaecological cancers or are still having treatment.
Their aim is to provide a group where people diagnosed with womb cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer or vulval cancer can share experiences and seek support and advice.
They feel that not enough is being done to highlight the four cancers and to give information about the signs and symptoms.
So with the help of Nottingham City Hospital, where they have been treated, they produced 50,000 leaflets and 500 posters which will be distributed throughout the county after the campaign, which has the slogan You Know Your Own Body, is launched at the hospital.
Several Newark shops, including Shirt Sleeves, Jane Young and Marks and Spencer, have agreed to have the leaflets. The WI has offered to put one in each copy of their county magazine.
The group has received sponsorship from two drugs companies to meet the cost of the leaflets.
Mrs Davis, who was a sales adviser at the Newark store of Marks and Spencer for many years, said it was vital women were aware of the cancers because an early diagnosis meant that treatment could start quickly.
She said many women were reluctant to talk about problems affecting that part of their body.
“We want women to be less inhibited in talking about these cancers,” she said.
“We want women to seek medical advice at the first signs of anything unusual.”
Mrs Davis was diagnosed with cancer of the womb in September, 2005.
She said being told she had cancer was one of the worst moments of her life and she thought she was going to die.
A week later she was admitted to hospital. The cancer had not spread outside the womb and she had a full hysterectomy and removal of the lymph glands.
Mrs Davis said it took her 18 months to recover and she is now keen to help others who face similar problems.
“If we can help save just one life because somebody has read this leaflet and realised they have a problem then it will be worthwhile,” she said.
Mrs Irene Davis (83) of Collingham was diagnosed with a gynaecological cancer in 2002 after putting off going to the doctor for a year. She had an operation at Nottingham City Hospital.
Unfortunately, the cancer returned two years ago and Mrs Davis had a further operation.
She said although it was difficult to talk about her problems the hospital staff put her at her ease.
“I firmly believe that we all know our own bodies, but I chose to ignore the symptoms.
“I was always too busy. It could never happen to me, but it did.”
She said that getting leaflets and posters in doctors’ surgeries, libraries and pharmacies could only be a good thing and that people needed to know more information about the different types of gynaecological cancer and the symptoms.
Mrs Mollie Calladine (65) of Birch Avenue, Farnsfield, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1999.
Her symptoms included a swollen stomach, being tired all the time and, for six months, not being able to eat much.
She said that she knew something was wrong, but put off going to see a GP.
Once the cancer was diagnosed she found that it was quite advanced.
She said: “I was very lucky because although it was in its advanced stages, I went to my doctor and he knew straight away.
“Most other women I have spoken to were diagnosed with other things, like irritable bowel syndrome.”
She had an operation and underwent a course of chemotherapy for six months and has been well ever since.
Mrs Calladine said that breast cancer was well known and widely talked about. She wants all four gynaecological cancers to receive similar publicity so that women know the symptoms.
Mrs Calladine said: “The majority of people know when there is something wrong with their body.
“I felt that too, and thought to myself it would go away. How foolish is that?”
