Women's Health Requires Greater Attention and Empowerment
Women's health must be taken more seriously, and women should be empowered to seek help for any changes in their health, stated Dr Liz O'Riordan, a former breast cancer surgeon who has personally experienced breast cancer three times.
Dr O'Riordan was the keynote speaker at the Let's Talk Women Health event held at The Hold in Ipswich on Saturday, which attracted over 300 attendees. The event aimed to dispel myths and online misinformation while connecting women with experts specializing in pregnancy, fertility, menopause, endometriosis, and neurodiversity.
"We are now realising we deserve more and for me it's teaching women what to say so they get taken seriously."
Dr O'Riordan previously worked at Ipswich Hospital and was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 at the age of 40, undergoing a mastectomy.
"Women on the whole - I wasn't - aren't very good at standing up for ourselves."
She highlighted that misinformation is widespread, leaving women uncertain about where to find reliable resources.
"You can't get easy access to your doctors. It's doctors like me who are creating content trying to breach that space and help people come to us and not Chat GPT.
"I think it's really important women get together and know they are not alone."
Event Co-Creator Highlights Historical Gaps in Women's Health Research
Amy Peckham-Driver, co-creator of the event now in its second year, expressed her motivation to bring women together to discuss topics that need destigmatization.
"Up until the 90s, women were largely excluded from medical research. We are lightyears behind where we should be in understanding women's bodies, health conditions and the challenges we face."
Peckham-Driver, from Needham Market in Suffolk, was diagnosed with deep infiltrating endometriosis after initially being told her pain was due to irritable bowel syndrome or anxiety.
"Women's health is not just a woman's responsibility. This is for their partners, carers, colleagues, managers, anybody... so they can better support the people that they care about,"she said.
Support from Healthcare Professionals and Personal Experiences
Julia Endacott, a women's health physiotherapist who completed radiotherapy for breast cancer two weeks ago, attended the event after seeing Dr O'Riordan was the headlining speaker.
"I think the attendance says it all, that it was a sellout. I think people are wanting this kind of thing and getting health advice and to have someone like Liz dispel myths.
"Unless you're hearing it from the professionals, you can be misguided.
"It's much better you got to the doctor and they reassure you than have a thing you might sit on and not get support for."
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