Serving the Teesside Business Community | 21
Professor Turner will be the keynote
speaker for the inaugural Tees
Businesswomen Awards event at Wynyard
Hall on Thursday, November 8.
“And I want it to be a region where they feel
comfortable and confident as young women
to walk into graduate-level jobs, and also that
there is a network of women for them to be
engaged with and to learn from as well.”
Drawing upon her own experience,
Professor Turner is making time in her packed
schedule to act as an ambassador for national
charity Target Ovarian Cancer too.
“I’ve become an ambassador for the charity
to raise awareness of the symptoms of ovarian
cancer because they are pretty subtle, but
there are symptoms that are recognisable,”
she said.
“While I’m here I’m absolutely going to raise
awareness and help raise funds.
“If I can save one woman by being
diagnosed early enough to not die from this,
then that’s a good achievement in my view.”
Her busy agenda even f eatures plans to
publish a book of 100 inspiring Northern
women to distribute in businesses and
schools.
Most Teessiders would probably agree that
Professor Turner deserves her own chapter in
the book.
Ovarian cancer: the symptoms
“I turned 50 in March 2017, got an OBE
in June and a cancer diagnosis in the
September” – Professor Turner reflects
on a “hell of a six months”.
Ovarian Cancer has four main
symptoms: persistent stomach pain,
persistent bloating, difficulty eating/
feeling full more quickly and needing
to wee more frequently. Other
symptoms that you might notice
include back pain, changes in bowel
habits and extreme tiredness for no
obvious reason.
If your symptoms are persistent,
severe, frequent and out of the
ordinary, you should make an
appointment to see your GP as soon
as possible. Keep a record of what
symptoms you are experiencing to
take with you as this will help your GP
make a speedier diagnosis.