Make room for a check on your womb.
Our founder urges all women to take up offers of screening, as cancer survival rates reach 72%.
Dr Anita Sharma was speaking at the end of Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month, which campaigns on five forms of cancer that can be eminently treatable.
And she also asked endo warriors to be particularly mindful, since new research says they are at four times greater risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Her message is simple – “Make Room to check on your Womb” – go to our blogs page.
Blog - endo healthcare needs nursing better
“On many occasions, I would receive strong painkillers before being sent up to the ward for ‘pain management’, which consisted of a junior doctor reviewing me and prescribing another medication which inevitably would not work.”
Those are the experiences Lucy Bowker endured when receiving endo health care at hospital and you can read all about them by visiting our Blogs page.
The young mum also had her appendix removed because medics thought that was causing her stomach pain.
Read how she wants to see improvements on the ward and remember – Lucy is a nurse!
Bowling club event rolls back 25 years of endo neglect.
Quit your bias against women’s health and redress a quarter of a century of painful stagnation around endometriosis.
That’s the message guests heard at an Endometriosis Awareness North coffee morning – after new research showed there’s been no progress in treating the chronic condition in over a quarter of a century.
Endometriosis affects one in ten women and is so physically and mentally waring it costs women careers, relationships and even has them considering whether life is worth living at all.
But visitors to the event, held at Norden Bowling Club were also left inspired by speaker Dr Zahid Chauhan OBE, who organised the world’s first COVID vaccination clinic for the homeless on the planet, with his charity, Homeless-Friendly.
Said Dr Chauhan: “Like Endometriosis Awareness North our ambitions were big but we showed real determination to overcome any barrier. Endometriosis is a chronic condition often leading to severe pain, infertility, and fatigue. Early diagnosis and proper treatment can make a huge difference in managing symptoms, but awareness is key.”
Two of the campaign’s ambassadors, Claire Warburton and Siobhan Kennett, both hooked-up with the concern at the last coffee morning in March. The fact that the latter was unable to attend this event was a reminder of the condition’s impact.
Founder Dr Anita Sharma mentioned the recently published NCEPOD (National Patient Outcome) report which she said, " Dismissed, ignored and belittled patients and said over three quarters of women feel that health service has not listened to them.”
She also thanked Dr Kenneth Ma consultant at St Mary's Hospital Manchester (who specialises in severe endometriosis and advanced laparoscopic surgery) for his presence at the event and support in educational awareness.
Dr Sharma concluded: “Nationally, Governments and other decision makers have left women in pain and misery for over 25 years, and we are no better at dealing with it than we were in the last century! This is not good enough.
Those with endo, speak of a state of hopelessness but I firmly believe that the borough of Rochdale can become a beacon for them and that this gathering signals the beginning of the end for ignorance around endometriosis.”
Find out what we're really about, on film
Click onto our brand new movie, detailing what Endometriosis Awareness North is all about Endometriosis Awareness North - YouTube
Featuring our treasured case study Courtney, it also gives medics a platform to call for quicker diagnosis of endometriosis.
With thanks to filmmakers Andrea Bertozzi and Pete Gibson Media.