Bereaved husband on a mission to spotlight ovarian cancer symptoms
A County Down widower whose wife died one year ago from ovarian cancer has said the ongoing lack of awareness about symptoms among health professionals meant his wife received a late and terminal diagnosis.
Stephen McCormick, whose wife Julie was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer said the disease shouldn't be ruled out until a final diagnosis is confirmed when a when a woman is undergoing investigations.
About 200 women every year in Northern Ireland are diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
Stephen McCormick told BBC News NI he's "passionate" about raising awareness of ovarian cancer and that he is "on a mission" to get a public awareness campaign up and running across Northern Ireland.
That mission began exactly 12 months ago on the day Julie died - 23 June 2024 - when he sent a message on the social media platform X, formally known as Twitter.
"When you are diagnosed late, the outcomes are much poorer and therefore if women can get to see their GP sooner, they have a better chance of being diagnosed and a better chance of survival," Stephen said.
