Fundraiser launches ovarian cancer support group

A woman, who organised a series of charity music festivals after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, is to launch a support group for other women living with the disease.

Dot Bailey, from Stoke-on-Trent, is launching the group at the Dudson Suite in the Victoria Lounge in Hanley, on 11 November.

It will meet monthly on the second Tuesday of each month, between 11:00 and 13:00.

Attendees are "brought together by a horrible disease," she says, but it is a positive thing as the group offers a place to meet people and make new friendships.

It is being supported by the charity Target Ovarian Cancer, and made possible with lottery funding.

Ms Bailey was diagnosed with late stage ovarian cancer in 2021, and about two years later she raised £5,000 for the charity by putting on her own fundraising music festival.

Target Ovarian Cancer was a "brilliant" organisation, she said, adding face-to-face support was what appealed most about setting up the group.

"It's okay doing things on the internet and doing things over the telephone, but to go along and sit with people who've gone through what you've gone through, I think is important," said Ms Bailey.

"When you're diagnosed with something like that it's all doom and gloom and you read things, and it's not good, but if you can see somebody that's come through all the treatments and they're still there and they're still living a life then that's important."

Following her diagnosis, Ms Bailey said she had been through chemotherapy as well as two sets of major surgery and was now on a maintenance treatment to keep her cancer stable.

Ovarian cancer was a comparatively rare form of cancer, Ms Bailey said, and there was not as much funding for research into it.

She added the symptoms were easily attributable to other conditions.

"There was nothing there when I got diagnosed," Ms Bailey said.

"So when this came about and Target Ovarian Cancer put the word out for facilitators, it was just important to me that if we can help any other ladies in Stoke-on-Trent get the support they need then let's do it."

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