North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has today sponsored, hosted and spoken at Target Ovarian Cancer’s Pathfinder Wales Reception and Report launch at the Senedd, celebrating the progress that has been made in ovarian cancer and emphasising the need for more to be done.
Having attended the launch of Pathfinder Wales in 2017, at this year’s event Mr Isherwood said “it has been wonderful to see not only the progress that has been made in ovarian cancer, but also the steps that continue to be taken to ensure everyone diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in Wales has the best possible chance of survival”, but stressed that the report “shines a spotlight on where we must go faster and further to ensure everyone with ovarian cancer in Wales gets the best diagnosis, treatment, and support”.
Speaking at the event, he said:
“Pathfinder is Target Ovarian Cancer’s ground-breaking research, that provides a detailed picture of the experiences of those affected by ovarian cancer in all four nations of the UK.
“While the report shows some progress has been made, it shines a spotlight on where we must go faster and further to ensure everyone with ovarian cancer in Wales gets the best diagnosis, treatment, and support.
“Since the last publication of Pathfinder Wales 2017, there have seen some significant achievements, such as the introduction of a single cancer pathway in Wales for gynaecological cancers, which aims to allow patients to receive diagnostic tests in a timely manner and start their treatment within 62 days. This is a great step forward towards achieving earlier diagnosis of ovarian cancer. We also saw the establishment of an ovarian cancer audit in England and Wales.
“This was one of the key recommendations from Target Ovarian Cancer’s 2016 Pathfinder study, highlighting just how important this research is.
“These recommendations are vital to ensuring that every woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Wales has the best access to treatment and support, no matter where they live.
“I am, however, disappointed to learn that despite the then Welsh Assembly Petitions Committee producing a report in 2017 calling for a public-facing ovarian cancer awareness campaign in Wales, there has to date been no specific awareness campaign for ovarian cancer.
“Whilst we have seen many achievements in the past seven years, it is clear from this report that we need to do more.”