A Co Derry woman has spoken out about her shock ovarian cancer diagnosis and is imploring the government to take notice of her story so that more women in Northern Ireland can live well and receive appropriate treatment.
Pauline Donnelly, from Maghera, was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer in 2021 after experiencing abdominal pain and frequently going to the bathroom.
Ovarian cancer is a devastating disease which affects around 200 women in Northern Ireland every year, yet a new report by Target Ovarian Cancer reveals not enough is being done to tackle the disease.
Read more: NI student fighting ovarian cancer after symptoms thought to be UTIs
Mum-of-three Pauline and Target Ovarian Cancer will be at Stormont next week telling MLAs what needs to be done to improve the lives of those diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Pauline, 59, wants to make sure that everyone knows the symptoms of ovarian cancer and action is taken straight away.
She said she was unaware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.
“I had noticed myself being extremely tired and at the time I had put it down to the lockdown and having little to look forward to when everything seemed so disconnected,” she explained.
“In the weeks leading up to my diagnosis, I started to experience discomfort in my lower abdomen and was making quite frequent visits to the bathroom.
“So I thought it best to see my GP and I'm so thankful that she recognised these symptoms as a potential for ovarian cancer. She ordered a blood test to measure my CA125 levels and an ultrasound.
“My CA125 levels came back as excessively raised so things escalated from there. I was diagnosed as having Stage 4 ovarian cancer which had spread up into my chest.”
After several bouts of chemotherapy and surgery, Pauline is now feeling well again and getting back to normal life.
“I know that many women don’t have the same experience and have to wait months for a diagnosis,” she added.
While Pauline is thankful that her GP recognised the symptoms as potential ovarian cancer, hers is not a common story heard in Northern Ireland, according to new data from Target Ovarian Cancer.
In its latest state-of-the-nation report, Pathfinder Northern Ireland: Faster, further, and fairer, Target Ovarian Cancer’s research shows awareness of the symptoms remains concerningly low.
The research, which was first conducted in Northern Ireland in 2016, also shows not enough progress has been made to diagnose women faster, provide further support and improve access to treatment.
Just two per cent of those surveyed were able to name feeling full as an ovarian cancer symptom and concerningly no one surveyed was able to name urinary urgency - both have worsened since the last report in 2016.
It found women are also still waiting too long for a diagnosis with 30% reporting waiting more than three months from their first appointment with their GP to receiving their diagnosis.
Meanwhile, 58% of GPs report it takes 15 days or more to receive results of urgent non-obstetric ultrasounds for suspected ovarian cancer.
This coming Tuesday 6 June, Target Ovarian Cancer will present its findings to MLAs, who will also hear first-hand from Pauline.
She added: “I want the government to take notice of my story – and the experience that women could have if there was the appropriate investment into awareness campaigns and enough support for healthcare professionals.
“We need everyone to be able to spot the symptoms, and we need healthcare professionals to be supported to diagnose the disease as soon as possible. We need the government to act now.”
Target Ovarian Cancer knows that progress is possible if urgent action is taken now to address shortcomings in awareness of the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and support.
Rachel Downing, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Target Ovarian Cancer, said: “When a woman goes to see her GP with the symptoms of ovarian cancer, we need to ensure that she is getting the diagnostic tests needed to rule out or confirm a case of ovarian cancer.
“What we are seeing in Northern Ireland are avoidable delays in women getting that diagnosis – and GPs not receiving those tests in a timely manner.
“Three months to find out whether you have ovarian cancer is too long. This time needs to be reduced, and cases need to be diagnosed at the earliest possible opportunity.
“What’s happening now is unacceptable. We need to see urgent investment in awareness campaigns, diagnosis, and access to treatment, especially surgery and more support is needed.”
Target Ovarian Cancer’s report also found that more practical and educational support is needed for GPs and recently launched an Early Diagnosis Network for healthcare professionals to introduce diagnostic interventions to speed up diagnosis.
The charity runs a GP educational programme, to assist GPs to spot the symptoms and says a combination of these areas will lead to widespread improvements for those diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Dr Nina Craft, a GP at Woodbrooke Medical Practice in Dunmurry and a member of the Pathfinder Advisory Panel, said: “No GP wants to miss a diagnosis of ovarian cancer, so it is vital that all healthcare professionals are supported from an educational and practical point of view.
“If together we can improve the awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer among the general public and healthcare professionals, and invest in education and resourcing, we have a higher chance of diagnosing this devastating disease earlier and helping women access the treatment they need.”
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