Two blond women, one in teal wearing Cure Our Ovarian Cancer t-shirt, the other in pink, standing on the steps of parliament in front of crosses

Ovarian cancer petition: Thousands call for better diagnosis, funding

Last year deaths from ovarian cancer topped the number of women killed on our roads, yet people with the disease say it is an ignored crisis.

Today a petition with more than 7000 signatures, calling for national diagnostic guidelines to be developed, better treatment options, as well as more government funding, was presented National Party MP Louise Upston on the steps of Parliament.

Those steps were smothered in 182 white crosses – the number of people who died last year of the disease.

Jane Ludemann, who co-organised the petition, was diagnosed in 2017.

She said the sector was woefully underfunded.

“At a government level we’re not funding anything in regards to awareness and most years we don’t fund any research. It’s one of our least-funded cancers in New Zealand.”….

Read more: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/438516/ovarian-cancer-petition-thousands-call-for-better-diagnosis-funding

Emma Hatton, 17 March 21