Doctors braced for huge upsurge in cancer cases

Feb 1 2008 by David Higgerson, Liverpool Daily Post

70 people denied drugs in Merseyside

The worst day of my life was when doctors told me I had ovarian cancer

LYNDA Dobson describes the date she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer – April 2 last year – as one of the worst of her life.

Every year, 7,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with ovarian cancer – as many as 5,000 die.

Now 10 months on, she considers herself quite lucky, having successfully undergone a chemotherapy.

“I’d been feeling bloated and when I first went to the doctor, it was suggested I had irritable bowel syndrome,” said Lynda, who lives in Eastham with husband Peter.

“Then I developed this swelling, like I was pregnant, so I went back to see a different doctor.”

That doctor initially suspected a growth, such as a cyst, Lynda said, and that opinion was backed up a consultant. Surgery led to 4.5litres of fluid being drained from Lynda’s abdomen.

During surgery, doctors found the “cyst” was actually an ovarian tumour 13cm big – which they suspect had grown in a matter of weeks.

Lynda and Peter have now formed the Ovarian Cancer Support Group, which aims to raise the profile of the cancer.

Peter said: “There is a test, which can measure the cancer antigen levels in the blood, and that can be a quick indicator of whether someone might have cancer.

“It’s a simple test and quick diagnoses is absolutely essential.”

* THE support group’s website is at www.ocsg.co.uk