Thank you. So, early detection of ovarian cancer is lifesaving and knowing the symptoms does make a difference, but this difficulty in diagnosis has left ovarian cancer to be called the silent killer. I think we need to rebuff that, because it isn’t silent—as we’ve said, there are symptoms, and it’s crucial that in this debate we speak up and that going forward we use that as a tool to tackle this cruel cancer.

I know that others have said the symptoms, but I am going to relay them, because the more we say it and the more we share it, the more the message gets out there. So, the four main symptoms to watch out for are: persistent stomach pain, persistent bloating, finding it difficult to eat or feeling full quickly and needing to urinate more often.

Also—I touched on this at the outset—linked to this raising awareness, it’s important for people to be aware of their own family history. Around 20 per cent of ovarian cancer cases are caused by genetic mutations, including the BRCA gene mutation. If a woman is found to carry a faulty BRCA gene, her risk of developing ovarian cancer increases from one in 54 to one in two, and it also increases the risk of developing breast cancer. I know that Ovarian Cancer Action is campaigning for BRCA to be used as a cancer prevention strategy, stating that to be aware of their BRCA status gives people the power to take action to prevent cancer.

However, I’m all too aware that taking steps to be tested for BRCA is not a decision that anybody would take lightly, and it’s often one that will be fraught with fear and anxiety about the important, although potentially life changing, decisions that would be made as a consequence of having that test. To me, that links back to the value—the need—of increasing awareness and making people aware that they may have the BRCA gene, but making sure that support is there for people in an accessible and adequate way.

There’s clear consensus, to wrap up, from the leading cancer charities, including Ovarian Cancer Action and Cancer Research UK, that the introduction of a national screening programme for ovarian cancer is not recommended, based on the current available evidence. Ninety per cent of women are not aware of these four main symptoms of ovarian cancer, but whilst women diagnosed at stage 1 have a 90 per cent survival rate, awareness is the best ammunition we currently have in early diagnosis and treatment of ovarian cancer.

The recommendations of the Petitions Committee, in terms of proposing that the Welsh Government continues to work with GPs and other health professionals to assure appropriate tests and early diagnosis, and, likewise, to do more to improve awareness of ovarian cancer over a prolonged period of time, really are our best line of defence in increasing early detection and diagnosis of ovarian cancer. So, let’s make sure that today’s debate fires the starting gun to do just that.