Dying of embarrassment?

http://ovariancancerday.org/about-ovarian/5-facts-everyone-should-know-about-ovarian-cancer/

An important article was published in The Guardian yesterday. But I don’t entirely agree with the article (for many reasons). 

The 103 women who I’m connected with across the globe who have the same diagnosis as me have had a range of experiences – many DID visit their GPs and in good time… but were told not to worry/misdiagnosed/etc… Without improved training/knowledge for all GPs, these women are not referred up to specialist gynae-oncologists. Without the referral, the appropriate treatment won’t come. I know that there are some FABULOUS GPs out there but there are also some that are not-so-fabulous, and some who (for a range of reasons) haven’t received the training they need in relation to gynae cancers/detection/etc (in my non-GP-opinion). I’ve read the NICE guidelines: my GP followed them, i.e. the guidelines didn’t suggest that she should refer me for tests. I requested a particular blood test – that was what led to my diagnosis. My GP agreed to the test – she listened to her patient – but was clear that she thought it unnecessary, that I had no symptoms to suggest a major gynae problem (as per NICE guidelines) but that if it will put my mind at rest, I should have the test. Thankfully she did this. Otherwise, I would have been another woman walking away with an IBS diagnosis, whilst a stage 2c borderline ovarian tumour (i.e. grade 0 ovarian cancer) carried along on its merry way. And I don’t want to think what the outcome might then have been.