A local charity founded in memory of a popular BBC broadcaster, for whom a rose garden was planted in Salford to commemorate the lasting impact she made, has called for “urgent action to stop the unacceptable inequalities of ovarian cancer outcomes locally.”
The Dianne Oxberry Trust, founded in 2019 following the death of the long-serving BBC presenter, marked its seventh anniversary on 8 May, World Ovarian Cancer Day.
The charity highlighted that residents in the North West are 25 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with cancer than the rest of the UK and more people are living with cancer in the region, according to data from North West Cancer Research.
“Ovarian cancer statistics are particularly stark, with some parts of the North West seeing prevalence rates up to 22 per cent higher than the rest of England,” a spokesperson for the charity said.
“Someone dies every two hours of ovarian cancer, but if diagnosed in its earliest stages, more than 90 per cent survive for more than five years.”
To mark the charity’s seventh anniversary, the Dianne Oxberry Trust has launched a new tool for people to use to help track any symptoms they are experiencing so they can see their GP armed with all of the information they will need to discuss.
Dr Charlotte Badescu, trustee of the Dianne Oxberry Trust, is a local GP who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 31.
She said: “As someone who has survived ovarian cancer and is also a doctor, I know just how vital it is to be body aware and to seek advice or help if there’s anything that doesn’t feel normal to you or you’re worried about.
“We’re really proud to be launching our brand new, free symptoms diary to help people across the North West to monitor and track their symptoms in advance of seeing their GP, and to help them make a note of any questions or other signs they’ve spotted that they want to raise.
“As a GP, it can be really helpful to understand patterns in people’s symptoms, and this really simple diary will mean appointments run even more smoothly as there will be lots of helpful information for your doctor to review.
It can form the basis of more detailed discussions and then GPs can arrange for any additional tests or other actions as a result.”
The Diane Oxberry Trust raises awareness of the symptoms via a range of outreach activities in the local community, using its Spread the Word campaign with its handy acronym:
Weeing more often
Overly bloated feeling
Reduced appetite or feeling full more quickly
Dull ache or pain in the pelvis or tummy
“We’ve worked really hard to make sure the document is as easy to follow and complete as possible and we’d love lots of people to download it,” Badescu added.
“With North West Cancer Research statistics showing unacceptable inequalities of ovarian cancer outcomes locally, we know that there needs to be urgent action to save lives here in the North West.
“As a really small charity, we’re proud to play our part and won’t stop shouting about the symptoms to look out for until we reach a future where no one in the North West dies from ovarian cancer.
“Please download the symptoms diary from our website or contact us to receive one in the post. It literally could save your life or the life of someone you love.”
The Dianne Oxberry Trust, which was launched following the huge outpouring of grief across the region following the death of the presenter from ovarian cancer in January 2019, raises awareness of the symptoms to look out for to help improve early diagnosis and outcomes.
The popular broadcaster died just ten days after being diagnosed, and her friends and family, who launched the charity, know first-hand the vital importance of recognising the signs and symptoms and taking prompt action to save lives.
Following Dianne’s death, her friends, family and colleagues opened a rose garden in her memory in Media City.
It was hoped that the garden would help to raise awareness of ovarian cancer, a disease often diagnosed late because its symptoms can be easily missed.
For more information or to download the symptoms diary from the Dianne Oxberry Trust website, visit the charity’s website.
