A ROADSHOW is in Runcorn today to make women aware of the possible symptoms of ovarian cancer.

The Be Clear on Cancer roadshow will be at Runcorn Shopping Centre until Wednesday, March 12.

Latest figures show that 89 women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer and 48 died of the disease, in Cheshire and Chester in 2011.

Professor Paul Johnstone, the regional director of public Health for North England said: “Figures show that more needs to be done to raise awareness that feeling bloated, most days for three weeks or more could be a sign of ovarian cancer.

“Finding ovarian cancer early makes it more treatable. Increasing awareness of potential symptoms, and encouraging women to visit their doctor if they experience them, could ultimately help save lives.”

The roadshow is part of Public Health England’s Be Clear on Cancer regional pilot in the north west to raise awareness of the fact that feeling bloated, most days, for three weeks or more could be a sign of ovarian cancer.

Finding ovarian cancer early makes it more treatable. More than 90% of women diagnosed with the earliest stage of ovarian cancer survive the disease for at least five years.

This figure is around 5% for those women diagnosed at the most advanced stage. Only around three in ten women are diagnosed at the earliest stage of the disease.

Currently, women in the north west have low awareness of ovarian cancer symptoms. Recent survey data shows that almost all (97 per cent) don’t link persistent bloating with ovarian cancer.