ALMOST 200 women in the west of Scotland die of ovarian cancer and 271 are diagnosed with the disease know as the silent killer each year.

These shock figures were given to the Evening Times yesterday as part of our special series of reports.

Last week we revealed positive news that the Scottish Government's £30million star-studded early detection campaign for breast, bowel and lung cancer was boosting survival rates in the West of Scotland.

In the Glasgow area alone 10.7% (1,518 ) more people were diagnosed early at stage one last year wiuth a greater chance of living a long, happy life.

Top Glasgow-born celebrities Alex Ferguson, Elaine C Smith and Ford Kiernan played a key role in hammering home how vital it is to get checked out early to give victims the best fighting chance.

Ninety percent of women diagnosed with early stage one ovarian cancer will survive at least another five years.

Now Target Ovarian Cancer, a national charity battling to save lives and help women diagnosed live with the disease, is coming to Glasgow.

Ovarian cancer victims are being invited to join the charity, local health specialists and ovarian cancer experts in the city for a Being Together day next Thursday, September 4, at the Thistle Glasgow Hotel in Cambridge Street from 10.30am until 4pm.

It will be an opportunity for women and their families and friends to meet other people in a similar situation, share advice and get information on the latest developments in the field.

Later that day from 4pm until 6pm at the hotel, there will be a chance for women with ovarian cancer, GPs, ovarian cancer experts and policymakers to attend an event aimed at helping GPs spot early signs of the disease.

On Saturday October 4 hundreds of women are taking part in the Walk for One Million challenge which is Target Ovarian Cancer's flagship 10k from Falkirk.

Greenock woman Claire Banks, 31, is getting involved in memory of her mum Dorothy who died of ovarian cancer in 2011.

She said: "Mum was conscious of swelling in her abdomen when we were on a family holiday in 2009 so ­visited the GP upon her return.

"In hindsight, she thought her symptoms had started before this but it was at this time that she was very aware that something wasn't right.

"We'd never known anyone with ovarian cancer before mum was diagnosed."

SHE continued: "I'm excited that Scotland will host all these events.

"Anyone can get involved and help improve early diagnosis and raise vital funds for Target Ovarian Cancer.

"I want all women, like my mum, to know the symptoms of ovarian cancer and get herself to her GP quickly."

Target Ovarian Cancer's campaigns tackle the three biggest barriers to progress which are late diagnosis, limited choice of treatments, and the isolation so often felt by women with ovarian cancer.

The charity's chief executive Annwen Jones said: "If women don't know the symptoms, they won't go to the doctor, so it is vital that women in the West of Scotland are made aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer.

"Listen to what your body is telling you, make a note of your symptoms and how often you're experiencing them.

"Take a copy of one of our symptoms leaflets with you to the doctor, and ask them to consider ovarian cancer.

"Target Ovarian Cancer is working with GPs in the West of Scotland to help them update their symptoms knowledge, as well as working with the Detect Cancer Early programme.

"With both women and GPs taking action, we can look forward to seeing improved early diagnosis and improved survival rates in this area of the country."

janice.burns@eveningtimes.co.uk