Charity drive to raise awareness of deadly cancer

Charity drive to raise awareness of deadly cancer

8 February 2012 - by CIARA COLHOUN

THE family of a Saul woman who lost a long battle with ovarian cancer last year are hoping to raise awareness about the illness and other gynaecological cancers through The Eve Appeal.

Maureen Brennan first showed symptoms of ovarian cancer in her late 40s when she began to suffer from abdominal bloating and pain. Despite the persistence of her symptoms, which mimic other conditions, she remained undiagnosed for nine years.

Once doctors realised she was suffering from ovarian cancer, Maureen fought her illness and underwent 50 rounds of chemotherapy and operations before finally losing her battle after seven years. She was 62 years-old.

As the first anniversary of her death approaches, Maureen’s family are hoping to raise better awareness about the symptoms of ovarian cancer and four other gynaecological cancers through the charity The Eve Appeal.

The Eve Appeal was launched in 2005 and is the UK’s only national gynaecological cancer research charity.

It aims to reduce the 41 per cent mortality rate of such cancers, which are ovarian, cervical, womb, vulval and vaginal.

The Brennan family was prompted to support the Appeal after being told by doctors that Maureen’s prognosis would have been very different if she had been diagnosed three years earlier. By publicising the need for early detection, they hope others will be spared similar suffering and pain.

Maureen’s sister Anne Rice, who lived with Maureen and her family in Saul, said Maureen’s daughters researched the charity while their mother was still alive.

Maureen had asked guests at her 40th wedding anniversary celebrations to consider donating to charity in lieu of presents and asked her children to find a suitable charity.

“Maureen was never angry about her late diagnosis, but she felt cheated out of extra time with her family, her children and grandchildren,” said Anne.

“She wished things had worked out differently for her and was delighted when her anniversary party raised £1,000 for The Eve Appeal.

“Then following her death, we held a fundraising event at the Russell Gaelic Union, which raised a further £2,000 for the appeal.”

Anne has since been named the charity’s first representative, an Eve champion, in Northern Ireland.

“We are hoping to let people know what symptoms to look out for because if Maureen had known it would have made such a difference,” she said.

“Screening programmes would surely cost so much less than treating a progressive cancer for years. Hopefully by the time her grandchildren are adults there will be such programmes in existence.

“We are a very close family and Maureen was the centre of it. She is terribly missed by the lovely family she raised and we just want things to be different for cancer sufferers in the future.”

Anne is arranging fundraising tea mornings for the appeal in March, which is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, and is keen for anyone willing to host a tea event to contact her on 07955369129.

She will host her own event on Maureen’s birthday, which is May 23.