A student at the University of Sheffield student is running the Sheffield half marathon to raise money for ovarian cancer, in honour of her late grandmother.
Asha Chaudhry, 22, will be one of 6,000 runners partaking this Sunday.
Her chosen charity is Target Ovarian who campaign for symptom awareness, better treatments and earlier diagnosis.
Miss Chaudhry said: “I chose this charity as they supported my family through my grandma’s ovarian cancer diagnosis, before she unfortunately passed away in 2016.
“Every year myself and my family donate and raise money to help enable the support for other women, as well as continue to spread awareness of ovarian cancer, particularly as two thirds of women are diagnosed late, due to lack of awareness of symptoms.”
As March is Ovarian Cancer awareness month, it is important to remember the many women who have lost their lives and crucially the warning signs to look out for.
What are the stats?
- According to the Robin Cancer Trust, around 7,500 women in the UK are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year – an average of 21 women a day.
- Ovarian cancer is the 6th most common cancer in women
- One in 52 women are expected to be diagnosed in their lifetime.
- If treated at an early stage, ovarian cancer is 90% curable.
But what are the main symptoms of ovarian cancer?
The symptoms are common and can be easily ignored or mistaken for more minor conditions.
The NHS say it is important to check regularly for the signs such as:
- swollen tummy and feeling bloated
- pain and tenderness in the tummy and pelvis
- increased urge to urinate
- loss of appetite
- fatigue
- bleeding after the menopause.
Some common misconceptions
Ovarian cancer does not just affect older women – according to the Robin Cancer Trust over half of all diagnosis are in women over 65, but women can get ovarian cancer at any age, and 1,000 women under the age of 50 are diagnosed every year.
No family history also does not mean you are safe, as only 15-20% of diagnosis relate to family history.
Where can I go for help?
Acknowledging your symptoms and the fear of the unknown can be a terrifying time and feel very isolating, but it is important to remember you are not alone.
- The NHS encourages women to get your symptoms checked by a GP at the earliest possible opportunity.
- Target Ovarian Cancer and Ovacome are charities who aim to provide support and resources for women battling ovarian cancer.
- The Robin Cancer Trust provide free ‘Thriver Packs’ for any women who have been diagnosed, to make their journey more comfortable, which can be ordered on their website.
The link to donate to Asha’s just giving page is https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/asha-chaudhry