A major ovarian cancer campaign will tour Greater Manchester, featuring the image of Dianne Oxberry.
The roadshow has been created by NHS, the Dianne Oxberry Trust and Target Ovarian Cancer and will take place during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month this March.
The mobile information unit will feature the late BBC North West Tonight weather presenter on one side.
“We’re really excited to bring the new This Van Can Ovarian Cancer Awareness Roadshow to Greater Manchester in Dianne’s memory, working with the NHS and Target Ovarian Cancer. We hope this will help to save lives, as we know when found at its earliest stages 9 out of 10 cases of ovarian cancer can be successfully treated,” said Jo Rosenberg, chair of the Dianne Oxberry Trust.
”By founding the Dianne Oxberry Trust charity in her name, our aim is to spread the word and raise awareness of the signs and symptoms to look out for when it comes to ovarian cancer, and by getting out into the communities across Greater Manchester in this van we’re hoping we can do just that.
“We think Dianne would be extremely proud that we are using her legacy to help in this mission to save more lives so that other families are not devastated like hers was by ovarian cancer.”
It’s part of a series of “This Van Can” projects being run by the NHS Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance and will start in Sale – the home town of Dianne Oxberry next week.
It will also visit MediaCity, before heading to all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester.
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“It’s important that people are aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer. We hope this van will help leave a lasting impact and help people to do this,” explained Dr Nadia Ali-Ross, an NHS doctor and clinical lead for gynaecological cancers at Greater Manchester Cancer Alliance – part of the NHS.
“If you have recurrent symptoms that you are worried about you should always visit your GP.
“Most of the time it won’t be cancer, but it is always better to talk to your GP.”
Dianne Oxberry died in 2019, aged 51.
“Just 1 in 5 women know that persistent bloating can be a symptom of ovarian cancer, which is why we are delighted that This Van Can is taking information about ovarian cancer and what to watch out for into the heart of communities across Greater Manchester,” said Sharon Tate, head of primary care development at Target Ovarian Cancer.
“Knowing the symptoms could save a life. If you are experiencing symptoms like bloating, tummy pain, feeling full or weeing more often, and these are persistent, frequent and new for you, don’t delay in making an appointment with your GP.”
