Raising Awareness?

I recently wrote to a popular weekly womens magazine regarding Ovarian Cancer, in a hope that they would publish an article about possible symptoms and what to do if you are concerned. I haven't heard back from them, not even an acknowledgement so am assuming they are not interested. Have any of you successfully had an article published, if so where and how did you go about it. Any help greatly appreciated! I do agree that the sad demise of a lady on telly will highlight OC but think we need to keep plugging as already sad especially to GP's

[Juleswhee]

Hi Lyn , This is so disappointing .When they had the recent debate in parliament I mailed my MP and like a lot of others haven’t ever had a response .It just isn’t high profile like Breast Cancer .I see that in the coming months an Eastenders storyline will see “Jean Slater” battle OC , let’s hope it is managed sympathetically and correctly and helps to bring awareness to many more ladies. XJuliax

[Hidden in reply to Juleswhee]

It is disappointing, awareness is crucial, I for instance had never heard of Ovarian cancer and did not have any noticeable symptoms until I had, had it for two years.(or so my Oncologist estimated) I was diagnosed stage 4, obviously if I had seen a GP earlier, I would have a very different prognosis.

[Coldethyl]

Sadly it’s not sexy like breast cancer ( or should I say like how breast cancer can be sexed up by media and marketing ) - it’s nkt even as glamorous as cervical cancer as it’s hidden inside of mostly invisible post menopausal women - similarly with womb cancer - such a narrative means it’s overlooked by media and healthcare professionals alike- I at least got a reply from my MP as his Mum died from OC - some days it’s hard not to feel bitter about getting a cancer that no one seems that fussed about and those that do talk about it to you all do the pitying look and head tilt !! Can you tell I’m in a mood today and can’t get out of own way x

[Hidden in reply to Coldethyl]

I think being in a mood is perfectly understandable. Many more women went for smear tests after Jade Goodie went public with her battle for Cervical Cancer. There was a leaflet in my doctors surgery regarding various female cancers but nothing on Ovarian Cancer, so I may also contact them and ask why not?

[Lily-Anne]

I was a journalist and have written for many magazines however most do not accept unsolicited articles. If you wish to approach with an article you would send an outline of the idea to the features editor and commonly if they are interested would have it followed up in house

Starting point is to find out what submissions they accept, do you need an agent, do they want to see your portfolio etc

Article writing is a competitive market, if you wish acknowledgments of receipt you need to tell them. I would say 8/10 don’t respond. Some accept hard copy only, others by email attachments but must be in their preferred format

Please pm me with the name of the magazine and I will find out their requirements

LA xx

[thomas62 in reply to Lily-Anne]

Hi L-A,

Thanks for supporting the efforts of Lyn1987 in finding out how she (and others) might get their articles published. xxx

[Cropcrop]

Hi Lynn, I have contacted the Hearst publishing groupon more than one occasion, they publish lots of magazines, I get the Prima magazine where they do an annual 4-5 page spread article on breast cancer but I had no response from them at all. On cold feet at the moment they’re running a storyline about breast cancer (sorry if that’s a spoiler for anybody who’s not yet seen it) this is good in that it raises awareness but we also need more awareness of our disease. Not many programmes cover our cancer and when any of them cover any cancer at all I find it to be dealt with in an unrealistic way which differs so much from my own experience and I was very lucky to have been treated really speedily because my GP was totally on the ball.

My MP took three months to reply, in fairness she was on maternity leave, she forwarded my e mail onwards and I actually received a letter from the House of Commons from the MP who brought the bill to the house for consideration. I may be an old cynic in not expecting too much but we keep plodding on.

Here in the North West one of the local BBC weather presenters (Diane Oxbury) recently sadly died from our disease, her husband has launched a charity to raise funds and awareness so hopefully that will help a little. I have e mailed the local BBC to ask if they could possibly do a feature on the disease given their closeness to this subject and having lost a friend and colleague. I’m not holding my breath but you never know, if we keep giving it a try somebody may take notice of us.

Keep trying love, I will too ❤️Xx Jane

[Hidden in reply to Cropcrop]

I saw cold feet with the breast cancer story line and immediately I thought what a shame its not about Ovarian Cancer...........like you say just keep trying. xx

[Lily-Anne in reply to Hidden]

That’s exactly what I thought, why bc again!

[lynn6156]

The soaps could do more, given that they're watched by so many people, and people who get quite involved with the storylines and the details. I only watch one (Corrie) and over the years they've covered cervical cancer twice, pancreatic, testicular and breast...

Lynn

x

[Jinny31]

I just read that Eastenders will be featuring a storyline on ovarian cancer - which is great

[Hidden in reply to Jinny31]

That is good news! Maybe we can strike while the iron is hot!

[Hidden]

I agree with you, there hasn't been anything recently in Womens magazines, maybe we should push it more. I did contact Womans Way in Ireland but they replied that my article may be used later but never was, I will get onto them again especially as World Ovarian Cancer Day is May so that is giving all Magazines time for articles to be accepted. I do get Womans Own or Weekly or even Yours. Now this is a plan because if we ask for an article and they hear from a few ladies, they might sit up and listen

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Getting into magazines is harder than I imagined, however I have had a positive response from our local Womens Institute with a view to leaflets or perhaps talks. Not a great fan of public speaking but an article in a there newsletter would be brilliant.

[Purple-iris]

Yes I agree lots more to do but as others have said there is a big Ovarian Cancer storyline coming up in Eastenders. Just seen this in the radio times.

They’ve been working with Macmillan so hopefully will be accurate and dealt with sympathetically.

radiotimes.com/news/2019-01...

There’s also a big storyline in Neighbours

( yes I have to admit to watching it! It’s my guilty pleasure ) Where Sonia has just been diagnosed with stage 4 OC. Great for awareness but I used to enjoy a bit of chill out tv and also needed the tissues watching cold feet last night.

Have you spoken to Ovacome or Ovarian Cancer Action about telling your story and getting help to get it in local press along with symptoms etc. My story was on the Ovarian Cancer Action site and used by a couple of internet sites for women’s health. I’m also working with them on projects for Ovarian cancer awareness

month.

When I was first diagnosed I was so angry every time something about breast cancer was on the telly and OC wasn’t mentioned. Volunteering with OCA and learning more about their research and the work of Ovacome has really helped.

Keep spreading the word ladies

Love and best wishes Kim x💜

[Zssu]

I must share something. I am brca 1 and have had a mastectomy x 2. Complained to by breast surgeon in August that at night .... as my food moved up my ascending colon [I am very slim so can feel this] it was causing a numbing pain in my back. I couldn’t stretch my back to prevent it. I was concerned it could be bone mets from the bc. He didn’t see any concern but I paid to have an mri scan. Scan showed ‘general wear and tear’ so I shut up. Pain continued. I had an ovary and fall tube removal in December 18 (prophylactic). The pain went immediately! They found 1 primary Fallopian Tube serous pap adenocarcinoma. I do believe any pain MUST be properly investigated. I have been told that tumour would have gone on to Ovarian Cancer. I have since had a hysterectomy, omentum, etc etc removal and all are clear. If the nhs could get Ovarian cancer at fallopian stage (which I believe is 70%) of OC. How much difference this would make?

[Cheryl4677]

Having had both breast cancer and now stage 4 ovarian cancer ( unrelated apparently in my case) I totally understand how you all feel about the lack of awareness and public information available. Angelina Jolie was highlighted for her brave decision to undergo prophylactic breast surgery. Her mother and other family members had breast but also ovarian cancer. Such a pity that the opportunity to raise this disease profile has been overshadowed by this beautiful woman’s breasts. I too knew very little about the severity of a diagnosis at a late stage. I never thought that my breast cancer was life-threatening and got on with my life after surgery and reconstruction. With ovarian cancer not a day goes by when I don’t think ‘I might not get to see or do that’ Such a different scenario! Best of luck in your efforts to highlight it. We need to tell people and talk about it more often. I was guilty of hiding it until I recently opened up to my singing group. Such a lovely supportive bunch.

Cheryl x

[izzybruce]

There not boobs, that's the Truth off it

[Humbug12]

I had a piece published in the Huddersfield Daily Examiner two weeks ago, and it had been picked up by Yours magazine who are publishing it in March which is ovarian cancer awareness month. Try your local paper first. I got loads of offers to pick it up once it had gone on the paper's online edition x

[Lily-Anne in reply to Humbug12]

That’s often a good way in. I wish I was still freelancing.

[Hidden]

Well done! xx

[moonbeam4]

I recently watched a video on youtube with the actress Kathy Bates who I have always enjoyed her work in films such as misery. Eventually the questions worked round to her battle with overian cancer and my ears pricked up straightaway especially after it was claimed she had " beaten it" as I had missed the fact she had been ill. This it turned out was an intentional decision to keep things secret as in her words she had not wanted to become the " Poster child for Overian cancer ". For some reason her reply really got my hackles up! I sat for ages mulling over the, in my mind, missed oportunity to raise awareness, particularly from such a high profile, well loved celebrity as Miss Bates is on both sides of the pond. I totally understand the desire for privacy while going through treatment, but can,t shake the thought that a little documentary or interview would have made a big impact especially as she says she has beaten the beast. Thinking about it , it was the words ' I didn,t want to be the Poster Child for Overian cancer " that has rubbed me wrong for some reason, not sure why?. Missed opportunity?. The interviewer didn,t ask any questions such as how the actress discovered it, what her symptoms were etc, ìt was literally just a "Wow, you kept that quiet " and "how fantastic you beat it! " Anyway, I,m rambling again, sorry, but what a missed opportunity I reckon!. Good luck Lyn, and after reading the efforts of the other ladies also, well who needs high profile celebrities?. What an amazing group of warriors! ☺m.b x x x

[Hidden]

I must admit I do feel that was a missed opportunity indeed but I guess we all have freedom of speech or not! After my diagnosis I didn't want anyone but close family to know, I soon realised that unless we shout and scream no one will listen, not the politicians or doctors and they do need to listen to us.

[Mptelesca]

I agree! Also, there should be a strong movement on making the CA125 a protocol as they do with Paps, Mammos, etc. Everyone should have that baseline at a particular age so that future developments can be analyzed properly. I'm amazed this is not a routine test. So simple and could save so many lives.

Good luck with your article! Thank you for fighting for us!

Marisa

[Hidden in reply to Mptelesca]

I agree totally. After my diagnosis my doctor rang and said that at their weekly meeting they had agreed to move the CA125 to first line investigation, I had to request it, as it was not offered to me, I told my doctor I thought I had all the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer, although she disagreed she did arrange the blood test.

[Mptelesca in reply to Hidden]

I guess the days of letting the doctor do all the talking and make all the decisions are over. We never spoke up since it could be seen as a non-trust issue. That isn't the case...these poor doctors are over-legislated. I totally understand there being strict guidelines regarding proceedures and medications. I just get the feeling that, unless, they are in a specialized field...the information they receive is overwhelming. I have a strong trust and respect with all my medical team. However, I have learned to speak up. When they tried to put me on 300mg zejula....I told them no. I know my body and my bloods and I knew it wouldn't work. As it turned out...the 200mg was too strong so now I'm on 100mg.

Let's keep on fighting! We are getting there!

[Shortie38]

Did you see the assie soap neighbours ovarian cancer has came up,sonia has just had her ct scan and it has come back at stage 4.x

[Hidden in reply to Shortie38]

I have to confess I don't watch any soaps, but I am so pleased that story lines are happening and in the pipeline.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I found the episode on catchup, what did you all think of the story line?

[Seasun36-uk]

Hi Lyn,

I saw an awareness raising page yesterday in the magazine “Fit & Well”.

Lx