SDLP South Down MP Margaret Ritchie has pledged her support for a specific ovarian cancer awareness campaign and has joined an All Party Committee on Ovarian Cancer in Westminster.
Ms Ritchie met yesterday at Stormont with Belfast woman Una Crudden, who has ovarian cancer and who is behind the drive for a specific campaign in Northern Ireland.
Ms Ritchie said: “Una is an inspiration and is taking on the fight for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
“Research has shown that 37 per cent women in Northern Ireland are not at all confident about identifying the symptoms. That is a startling figure and something must be done to rectify that, which is why a specific awareness campaign for ovarian cancer is so urgently needed.
“It is also alarming, and shocking, that 38 cancer drugs are not available to cancer patients in Northern Ireland.
“I have pledged to do what I can to make sure that message gets to Westminster, and will do what I can to change that. I hope that through the committee I can communicate the needs of cancer sufferers here.
“We spoke at length about the need to establish a Cancer Drugs Fund for Northern Ireland.
“The discrimination that currently exists against cancer patients because of where they live must end and, together with our health spokesperson, Fearghal McKinney MLA – who has taken up the fight at Assembly level on behalf of patients with the government, demanding immediate action to end discrimination against cancer patients in Northern Ireland and start saving lives – the SDLP will continue to support this fight and work to affect change.”
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