Terminally ill lady raises awareness of disease

The Mayor, Councillor Margaret Tolerton and Mrs Una Crudden, who is an ovarian cancer sufferer who spoke with to elected Members at the Council's Full Council Meeting on Tuesday 27th August.

‘silent killer’.

Una Crudden from Poleglass, was invited by Lisburn City Mayor, Councillor Margaret Tolerton, to address the full council at its Monthly meeting on Tuesday night, this after the mayor heard Una speak at a health awareness event for Council employees.

Una , a sufferer of ovarian cancer, was accompanied by her husband, Felix.

She told her own story and recounted her path to diagnosis, highlighting the need for greater awareness of ovarian cancer.

Una explained how, with five other women diagnosed at the same time as herself some four years ago, she is the only survivor at this stage,

She implored women who were concerned about their health to seek advice from their GP and, because of the difficulty in diagnosing ovarian cancer, to insist on being referred for tests if they were not satisfied.

The Mayor said: “You could hear a pin-drop in the Chamber. Una’s simple and powerful account of her illness, her strength, fortitude and her work to raise awareness of this terrible disease was both sad and inspiring.

“I was delighted to hear that, following discussions with Minister Poots and Una, a campaign highlighting ovarian cancer will be launched this Autumn by the Department of Health.

“Ovarian Cancer is detected through blood tests and abdominal scans, not through a cervical smear. I would appeal to anyone worried about this condition and their health to visit their GP and insist on their concerns being heard.

“I would like to thank Una so much for her testimony. The Council is delighted to donate £500 in Una’s name to the Northern Ireland Hospice. It is wonderful that Una has raised over £35,000 to date through her charitable endeavours,” concluded the Mayor.

Ovarian cancer symptoms are: frequent - they usually happen more than 12 times a month; persistent – they don’t go away; new – they are not normal for you and may have started in the last year; - persistent pelvic or abdominal pain (tummy and below) and increased abdominal size/persistent bloating, not bloating that comes and goes.