A dear friend of mine has recently been diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer - small cell ovarian cancer. This devastating news was further compounded by the discovery that the most effective treatment, high-dose chemotherapy, is not readily available to adult patients in the United Kingdom on the NHS. Small cell ovarian cancer is treated in the UK as ovarian cancer, rather than juvenile cancer, which is shown to be most successful by much of the research, and a protocol followed around most of the world. 

Small cell ovarian cancer is an uncommon type of tumor that accounts for less than 1% of all ovarian cancers (American Cancer Society). Despite its rarity, it's aggressive and requires immediate and intensive treatment. High-dose chemotherapy has been shown to be one of the most effective treatments in combating this disease.

However, due to age restrictions currently in place within our healthcare system, many patients are being denied access to this potentially life-saving treatment. This policy overlooks the fact that age does not determine a patient's resilience or their will to fight.

We believe everyone deserves a fair chance at battling this aggressive disease irrespective of their age. Therefore, we call upon health authorities and decision-makers within the NHS to review and revise these policies immediately.

By signing this petition you are supporting our plea for change; advocating for equal access to high-dose chemotherapy for all small cell ovarian cancer patients regardless of their age, as this clearly demonstrates the best outcomes. Please sign and share widely so we can make sure everyone gets a fighting chance against this devastating disease.