Congratulations to our amazing 2010 London Marathon runners!

April 2010

Thank you!

Janelle Johnson
Sarah Hanness
Laura Tollerton
Sarah Rogers
Karen Summerville
Rachel Baker
Alison Clarke
Edward Vincent
Richard Hawkes
Simon Leeson
Raymond Gee

Please note that if you would like to run for Ovacome in 2011 we have a very limited number of Golden Bond places and would therefore ask that anyone interested tries to obtain a place through the general London Marathon ballot first before applying to us.

Spring 2010 newsletter

March 2010

Ovacome's Spring 2010 newsletter is now available to download here.

'Loving for Lovers' by Ovacome member Diana Tennyson

February 2010

The joy of love and despair of loss - two sides of the same coin and two intense feelings that Ovacome member Diana Tennyson relates beautifully in her new collection of poems, 'Loving for Lovers'.

Diana met Ovacome founder Sarah Dickinson at the first Ovacome AGM in 1996 and has been a supporter ever since. She has written several poems for friends affacted by cancer and this book, dedicated to a friend who died of cancer eight years ago,  is her new collection focussing on love and the loss lof love.

Ovacome will receive a percentage of sales from the book which can be purchased from the Ovacome office for £10.98 including P&P. Please contact the office or send a cheque made payable to 'Ovacome' to the office address if you would like a copy.

Adidas 5k Women's Challenge entries now open!

January 2010

Here come the GIRLS!

On the 5th September 2010 the Adidas Women's 5k Challenge will be held in Hyde Park, London. Team Ovacome (from the office!) run this event every year and we always love to meet all the women running and walking in memory of loved ones and to help raise awareness of ovarian cancer.

Enter online at the link below or simply request an entry form from the Ovacome office on 020 7299 6654. Entry costs £15, £5 of which goes direct to Ovacome.

http://www.womenschallenge.co.uk/home

Christmas support service opening hours

December 2009

The Ovacome office and support service will be closed over Christmas from 5pm on the 23rd December to 9am on the 4th Jan.

We would like to wish all our supporters a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Ovarian cancer - are you at risk?

November 2009

Article in Best magazine featuring Ovacome member Gillian Pinnock.

See the whole article here.

One of Ovacome's ROCCs, Penny Lang, speaks to the BBC and the Daily Mail about her ovarian cancer journey

November 2009

Penelope, who lives in Northampton with her husband Alastair, 35, a risk manager, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in October last year. Ovarian cancer is the most common gynaecological cancer in the UK, with about 7,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Most of these are post-menopausal women, but many hundreds of young women are also affected.

Penelope's experience was typical. The only sign something was wrong was a bloated stomach. But she was one of the lucky ones: a scan for an unrelated problem detected the rapidly-growing cancer early, saving her life.

Read more at the Daily Mail

Listen to her interview with BBC Northampton here

Autumn/ Winter 2009 Newsletter

October 2009

Ovacome's Autumn/ Winter 2009 newsletter is now available to download here.

Ovacome Surveys 2009

August 2009

One of Ovacome's main missions is to provide a voice for those affected by the disease. Our surveys in the past have been widely distributed and warmly received. Your experiences have informed the Department of Health, as well as researchers and professional bodies. The results have been presented at international meetings as well as local events. Our 2006 survey remains the largest of its kind in the UK.

In preparation for ovarian cancer awareness month 2010, we wanted to learn more about your path to diagnosis. What was good? What could have been done better?

We would like your help in completing two quick online surveys. These surveys focus on what the barriers to your diagnosis were, and how we can remove them.

One called The Ovacome GP Experience Survey, which can be found here.

The second is called The Diagnosis Pathway Survey, which can be found here.

If you can, please do complete them both as they focus on different aspects of your diagnosis experiences.

The surveys are completely anonymous; we will not be able to trace the origins at all. Please do answer the questions as comprehensively as possible - the more we understand, the better we can use your experiences to help other women with ovarian cancer.

If you have any questions, please do feel free to call us or email us.

Thank you so much.

New Ovacome Factsheets!

August 2009

Ovacome is delighted to announce our 15 new and fully updated information factsheets. These cover various aspects of ovarian cancer such as types of ovarian cancer, staging and questions to ask your doctor as well as information on topics such as symptoms, screening, treatment options, relapse and coping with cancer-related issues like menopause and your sexuality.

We are also pleased to be able to tell you that that all our fact sheets have now been crystal marked by the Plain English Campaign, an organisation dedicated to clear and concise information in plain English.

For a full list of subjects covered or to download any of the factsheets from our website, please click here.

You can also make a request by phone or post.

Here come the girls! The Adidas 5k 2009

August 2009

Run (or walk!) the London Adidas Women's 5k on Sept 6th in Hyde Park in support of Ovacome and to raise awareness of ovarian cancer! Deadline for applications is the 15th Aug.

www.womenschallenge.co.uk

Summer 2009 Newsletter

June 2009

Ovacome's Summer 2009 newsletter is now available to download here.

Tributes to stalwart cancer campaigner and Ovacome trustee, Sandra Woodward

June 2009

Sandra Woodward was diagnosed when she retired to Clungunford more than six years ago and dedicated her life to furthering the welfare and care of cancer patients in Herefordshire and Powys. She studied the disease, becoming a recognised expert, speaking at conferences in the UK and in Europe.

Sandra was a valued member of the Ovacome trustee board and will be greatly missed by all at Ovacome.

Read more...