Britain lags behind on vital treatment

It is the fourth biggest cancer killer in women and survival rates have remained unchanged in 30 years.

Now a campaign aims to raise awareness of the condition and put pressure on MPs to do something to improve survival rates.

Chris Shagouri, 67, from Horsforth, Leeds, joined a delegation of women from Target Ovarian Cancer to lobby Parliament and to launch the charity's Six Simple Steps campaign.

She met her MP, Stuart Andrew, to tell him her experience of being diagnosed and treated for ovarian cancer in the UK. She said: "Too many women's lives are lost in the UK to ovarian cancer. Target Ovarian Cancer organised this parliamentary reception at the House of Commons so that I could meet my MP to make sure they know what it's like to have ovarian cancer in the UK. There's much that can be improved now and the chance to tell our MPs what we'd like them to do is vital."

Chris was diagnosed in 2008 and says in some ways she was one of the lucky ones as it was diagnosed quickly.

"I have met many woman who have not been diagnosed for some time. They have been told that they have irritable bowel syndrome or something like that."

Ovarian cancer is most common in post-menopausal woman.

As well as age, family history of the condition is a risk factor as it can be hereditary. Symptoms can be difficult to spot but include:

Persistent pelvic or abdominal pain

Increased abdominal size/persistent bloating – not bloating that comes and goes

Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly

Occasionally there can be other symptoms such as:

Needing to pass water more urgently or more often than usual

Changes in bowel habit

Extreme fatigue

Back pain

If you regularly experience any of these symptoms, which are not normal for you, it is important that you see your GP.

After suffering from abnormal bleeding, Chris went to her doctor and was diagnosed. She underwent a hysterectomy and chemotherapy, but has just been told the cancer has returned and is undergoing further treatment.

But she refuses to let her life be ruled by the disease.

"I believe life is for living," she says. "I do have good days and bad days but I have the great support of my husband and really want to raise awareness of this disease so that lives can be saved."

Target Ovarian Cancer executive Annwen Jones said: "This was one of the most important events in the campaign to save lives from ovarian cancer. We're delighted that Chris travelled to Parliament to give it her support. Every MP has been given a personalised pledge card and we're inviting them to sign up in support of our Six Simple Steps campaign.

The Six Simple Steps are:

Ensure studies examining why UK survival rates are so low are completed and remedial action taken.

Improve awareness of symptoms among women and health professionals.

Ensure all GPs have access to urgent diagnostic tests.

Ensure all women have access to a clinical nurse specialist.

Improve levels of emotional support available to women.

Ensure women have equitable access to clinical trials and new treatments.

John Baron MP, chair of the all-party parliamentary group on cancer, said: "The newly-elected Parliament has a critical role to play in ensuring women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed quickly and treated successfully."