Macmillan Cancer Support have awarded just under £11,000 to the Asian Women Cancer Group to fund a series of taboo-busting workshops aimed at Asian women living with cancer in North West London. The workshops provide a safe space for women to talk and help them re-build confidence after cancer treatment.
Emma Hammett, Macmillan Engagement Lead for London told us:
“A lot of the people I work with tell me that cancer has damaged their self-confidence. Treatment can leave them with physical scars or body changes such as hair loss. There is also the emotional trauma of a cancer diagnosis, which can affect people for years afterwards.”
“The Asian Women Cancer Group receives no government funding, so grants like this one from Macmillan are vital for the group to continue supporting local women. These Macmillan-funded workshops include a mixture of expert talks from medical professionals like psychologists or breast cancer surgeons, self-care workshops on mindfulness, exercise classes and hair and beauty sessions to help the women feel confident after their treatment.”
The Asian Women Cancer Group provides vital support to women like Saudamini, who was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram.
Saudamini, 68, from Queensbury in Harrow is a retired Bank Manager, and was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer.
Saudamini said: “I laughed when the doctor told me it was breast cancer. I was in shock. It all felt unreal. Luckily, I had my sister with me for support. Everything was made harder by the fact that my husband Vipendra had just been diagnosed with bladder cancer around the same time.”
Saudamini heard about the Asian Women Cancer Group through someone at her temple.
Saudamini: “I think that cancer is still a taboo within the Asian community. The group gives us a confidential space to talk. Within the Asian community there is still a culture where women get suppressed a lot more than men. Just being with other women who are going through cancer helps us to feel we are not alone and like we can open up.”
image004.jpgOn 12th September, the Asian Women Cancer Group held a Macmillan Coffee Morning. Their event raised £745 for people living with cancer. Macmillan Coffee Morning is the charity’s biggest annual fundraising event and raised
over £12millon for people living with cancer last year.
