A charity aimed at helping women with ovarian cancer in Cardiff launches its UK tour in the city tomorrow.
The 'feel good day' organised by Target Ovarian Cancer is in response to a local need in the Welsh capital after the closure of charity Cancer Care Cymru which used to provide specialist cancer nurses at the Velindre Hospital.
Target aims to help women deal with the psychological and physical impacts of the diseases throughout diagnosis and treatment. The charity hopes the roadshow will inform women on local services which may offer the support they need.
Public affairs director for the charity, Frances Reid, says she hopes the roadshow will highlight the lack of key nursing provision. Reid said:
"We are hopeful there will be a resolution soon to this situation that provides a long term solution to the lack of nursing cover. We know from the Target Ovarian Cancer pathfinder study that women say clinical nurse specialists are the most important people in terms of helping support them living with and being treated for ovarian cancer.
"They are also vital in terms of helping improve effective and efficient planning of care.In the meantime we are pleased to be able to make a small contribution towards supporting women in South Wales."
Julia Styles, 60, a nurse from Blackwood in Gwent, is receiving chemotherapy for ovarian cancer at the Velindre Hospital after being diagnosed in 2007. Styles was one of the first to sign up to the event. She said:
"I'm keen to meet other women in the same situation as me and maybe offer support to women who are newly diagnosed.
"As a nurse I am already aware of what kind of services are on offer locally to help me. Most women won't know this. I think my positive attitude to the disease is as a result of the skills I have learned from this support."
The event will take place tomorrow morning at 10.30am at the Holiday Inn. For more info email kmail@targetovarian.org.uk.
