North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has this afternoon called for a Welsh Government Statement on Ovarian Cancer Awareness in Wales.
Having last Wednesday hosted, opened and Chaired the online Wales Ovarian Cancer Awareness meeting organised by Target Ovarian Cancer and the National Federation of Women's Institutes Wales, which discussed ‘The subtle signs of ovarian cancer and the need for a public awareness campaign in Wales’, Mr Isherwood raised the issue in the Business Statement during this afternoon’s Senedd Plenary Meeting, which was held in a virtual format.
He said:
“At the meeting we heard that over 300 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year in Wales, that the earlier ovarian cancer is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat, and that prior to the coronavirus pandemic, only 37% of women with ovarian cancer in Wales were diagnosed at an early stage.
“We also heard - and I quote - ‘It’s vital that women are aware of the symptoms if ovarian cancer is to be diagnosed early. In Wales, only 15 per cent of women would make an urgent GP appointment if they were to experience the symptom of persistent bloating, this needs to change’.
“We therefore need to hear from the Welsh Government:
“What steps the Welsh Government are taking to improve recognition of symptoms of ovarian cancer among General Practitioners and increase the number of early referrals;
“what steps the Welsh Government are taking to encourage women who have symptoms of ovarian cancer to contact their GP following the easing of Coronavirus restrictions;
“Whether the Minister (for Health and Social Services) has considered the need for an ovarian cancer national symptom awareness campaign in Wales;
“And, without a viable screening process to detect ovarian cancer, what steps are being taken to address the lack of symptom awareness in Wales.
“I call for a Statement accordingly.”
The Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths MS, said she would ask the Health Minister to bring forward a Written Statement.