David Lammy has joined forces with Ovarian Cancer Action to help launch a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month in March.

David attended the launch event in Parliament, hosted by Sharon Hodgson MP – ovarian cancer’s champion on the back benches, where the MPs heard the shocking findings of a nationwide survey into levels of awareness of ovarian cancer.

The survey revealed that despite being the fourth most deadly cancer in women, the general public and women in particular are not well enough informed about ovarian cancer and its associated symptoms.

David said:

"March is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and is an ideal time for women in Tottenham and across the country to make sure they know the symptoms so they know when to go to their GP is they're worried. Every woman should be aware of the symptoms and encourage friends and family to do the same."

Only 1 in 6 (16%) of women are aware of ovarian cancer, this compares with more than 4 in 5 women (84%) who are aware of breast cancer, and women are more aware of the exclusively male prostate and testicular cancers than ovarian. Two thirds of women (66%) are not able to cite any symptoms of ovarian cancer or say they do not know what the symptoms are.

Diagnosis of ovarian cancer is difficult because symptoms are often mistaken for similar less serious conditions. New research shows women with any one of the following symptoms for more than 12 days a month should be checked out for ovarian cancer:

• Feeling persistently full
• Difficulty eating
• Abdominal pain
• Pelvic pain
• Bloating
• Increased abdominal size

David called on women in Tottenham to be aware of these and to report anything unusual to their GP.

12 women die each day in the UK from ovarian cancer. Its low survival rates have not changed significantly in over 20 years, mainly because most women are diagnosed once the disease has already spread. This occurs often because either women or their doctors are not aware of the frequent and persistent symptoms now associated with ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer action is working to improve awareness of both women and health professionals.

Sharon Hodgson MP, who hosted and spoke at the event said:

"I'm delighted to have the opportunity to work with Ovarian cancer action to raise the profile of ovarian cancer, the fourth most common cancer in women, within Parliament. It is one of those cancers that has received little attention in the past, and there is so much that can be done in terms of making women and doctors aware of the frequent and persistent symptoms, and in ensuring women get the best possible chance of successful treatment."

Annwen Jones, Ovarian cancer action Chief Executive commented:

"New research now means that frequent and persistent symptoms can help distinguish between ovarian cancer and less serious conditions. Yet we know two-thirds of women are unaware of any of the symptoms of ovarian cancer, and that GPs are often not aware of the significance of frequency and persistency. There is much that can be done in this and other areas to improve outcomes for women with ovarian cancer, as long as we act now. MPs can play a vital part in ensuring that ovarian cancer is clearly on the political agenda, and that we make significant progress towards saving lives.”

Other speakers included Dr Ian Gibson MP, Chair of All Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer – who emphasised the importance of groups such as Ovarian Cancer Action being active and gaining publicity for the cause – and actor and Ovarian Cancer Action Patron Gwyneth Strong (Cassandra in Only Fools and Horses), who lost her mother to the disease.