A NEW support group for women living with ovarian cancer has been launched in Dudley.

The group, based at White House Cancer Support on Ednam Road, has been formed by national charity Ovacome, to specifically help women in the West Midlands living with the disease.

Laura Nott, regional hub support co-ordinator at Ovacome, said the group aims to create a support network across the West Midlands based from the hub in Dudley, after the charity won £49,420 of National Lottery funding from The People’s Projects last Autumn.

The hub will provide practical advice and support to women living with the disease and their families, such as help phone line and a space for people to meet and share their experiences.

Laura explained: "It can be confusing and contradictory if you find out the information yourself. It can be very isolating if you don't know anyone else with the condition.

“Our main aim with the support group and the hub is to create a space for those affected by ovarian cancer to share experiences and offer each other encouragement, friendship, knowledge and understanding, while at the same time, with Ovacome’s contacts and experience, giving them access to expert advice on their health and wellbeing.

“One woman told me ‘It is so good to be able to just pop in and see you now that you are practically on my doorstep.’ She had recently become a member of Ovacome and was about to have surgery. I am so pleased to be able to offer such direct, accessible support to women, exactly when they need it."

To mark the launch, Ovacome is hosting a celebration at a glitzy Birmingham hotel on January 16 for women affected by the disease, their friends and families and healthcare professionals.

They will be joined by two Ovacome ambassadors, retired businessman Richard Riley, who lost his wife Maxine to ovarian cancer, and Dot Swallow, who is the gynae support group leader at White House Cancer Support.

To find out more about the group and how to get involved, email Laura on l.nott@ovacome.org.uk.