10 December, 2024
The INGO is delighted to be announced the winner of the Patient Organisation Project of the Year at the Irish Healthcare Awards 2024 for their Ovarian Cancer Awareness Campaign. Irish Healthcare Awards (hosted by the Irish Medical Times) were celebrated in front of industry leaders on Wednesday 4 December, at the Dublin Royal Convention Centre, Dublin.
The INGO, a voluntary group comprising thirty of Ireland鈥檚 foremost gynaecological cancer campaigners and patient advocates, is coordinated by Dr Sharon O鈥橳oole, Research Fellow in the School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin and Trinity St James鈥檚 Cancer Institute. The network has raised the profile of ovarian cancer and its symptoms, on World Ovarian Cancer Day, May 8th, each year, to impact on the dreadful mortality rate of the disease.
INGO research revealed 4 in 5 women in Ireland were not confident in recognising ovarian cancer symptoms. The campaign utilises a BEAT acronym; Bloating, Eating Difficulties, Abdominal pain, Toilet changes, to make symptoms easy to remember.
The successful work of the network has included an all-Ireland media relations approach to the campaign, partnering with Brazilian street artist Brutto, who created an impressive mural on Grafton Street, Dublin, depicting BEAT messaging and educating passersby on ovarian cancer symptoms and lighting up notable landmarks across the country including St James鈥檚 188体育 lit up in teal, World Ovarian Cancer Day鈥檚 official colour on May 8th.
Sharon O鈥橳oole said:
鈥�I am delighted to accept this award on behalf of the Irish Network for Gynaecological Oncology who are dedicated to raising awareness of gynaecological cancers. The award recognises the impact of the BEAT (Bloating, Eating difficulties, Abdominal pain, Toilet changes) to raise awareness of the ovarian cancer symptoms. We want to thank the team in the Reputations Agency, our clinicians and most importantly to the amazing patients who shared their impactful stories.鈥�
INGO Members: ARC Cancer Support Centres, Dublin; Answers for Cancer Podcast team; BRCA Ireland; Breakthrough Cancer Research; Cancer Care West; Cancer Trials Ireland; CervicalCheck; CERVIVA; Circle of Friends Cancer Support Centre; Coombe Women & Infants University 188体育, Dublin; Cork ARC Cancer Support; Cork Cancer Care Centre; East Galway and Midlands Cancer Support Centre; Emer Casey Foundation; Hive Cancer Support, Derry; Irish Cancer Society; Irish Society of Gynaecological Oncology; Karen Fenton Ovarian Cancer Fund; Lynch Syndrome Ireland; Marie Keating Foundation; Mater 188体育 Dublin; National Cancer Control Programme; National Immunisation Office; National Women鈥檚 Council of Ireland; OvaCare; Purple House Cancer Support; Queens, Belfast; Sl谩inte an Chl谩ir; Sligo Cancer Support; SOCK; Swell Fermanagh Cancer Survivorship Group; St. James鈥檚 188体育 Foundation (GynaeCancerCare); Trinity College Dublin; Trinity St. James鈥檚 Cancer Institute; University College Cork; University College Dublin School of Medicine; University College Dublin Gynaecological Oncology Group and 221+ CervicalCheck Patient Support Group.
For more information on the INGO please see: