Farron launches Ovarian Cancer Awareness month

12.00.00am GMT Wed 10th Mar 2010

MP Tim Farron is launching a campaign to support Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. During March the charity Ovarian Cancer Action is encouraging women and their GPs to be aware of the symptoms of the disease.

Tim's Mum, Sue Farron had ovarian cancer and passed away in 2004 at the age of 54. He is well aware of the fact that ovarian cancer is deadly because it is detected too late in so many women. "For women who are diagnosed with the disease early there is a 90% survival rate, but in reality the survival rate is only 25% because most women are diagnosed too late."

This year's campaign focuses on encouraging women, their families and GPs to remember the symptoms which are:

· Persistent tummy or pelvic pain

· Increased tummy size or persistent bloating - not bloating that comes and goes

· Difficulty eating and feeling full quickly

· Women may also experience other symptoms, such as the need to urinate more frequently, changes in bowel habit, extreme fatigue or back pain

Tim added "The tragedy of ovarian cancer is that so many women die who could have been treated effectively if they'd been diagnosed earlier. Ovarian cancer awareness month aims to prevent those tragedies and to save lives."