Charity warns of postcode lottery when it comes to early diagnosis of ovarian cancer

Target Ovarian Cancer has revealed an alarming postcode lottery in relation to women being diagnosed at stages one or two of the disease.

Currently in the UK, over 7,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year, but 20 per cent of those diagnosed are too ill to receive treatment and over 4,000 die each year of the disease.

If the cancer is caught early enough, there is a 90 per cent survival rate, but only one in ten survive if they are diagnosed at stage-four, which is the most advanced stage.

Information released from NHS England’s clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) has revealed the best and worst rates of diagnosis vary from 29 per cent in North East Essex to 56 per cent in Thurrock.

The charity said that ‘thousands of lives could be saved’ if more CCGs were able to match the top performing regions.

Ovarian cancer is difficult to detect in the early stages mainly due to vague symptoms, which include loss of appetite and bloating, both of which are often mistaken for mild complaints. Over 25 per cent of women are only diagnosed after being rushed to A&E with severe pain. Unfortunately by that time the cancer is often too advanced to be treated.

Rebecca Rennison of Target Ovarian Cancer, said “Every women should receive the earliest diagnosis possible.

“If we can achieve the government’s ambition of three quarters of women diagnosed with early stage disease, it would be a breakthrough comparable to the first introduction of chemotherapy or mapping of the human genome.

“It would be truly transformative and would see thousands of lives saved. We look forward to working with the government and the NHS to make this vision a reality and to write the next chapter in the fight against ovarian cancer.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

Posted by Karen Motley, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Freephone : 0800 304 738