Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Asian Women Cancer Group in Harrow addresses cancer taboos

The taboo-busting workshops provide a sanctuary for women to share their experiences, rebuild their confidence, and address the emotional scars that often linger long after cancer treatment

Asian Women Cancer Group in Harrow addresses cancer taboos

In North West London, a group of Asian women are breaking down taboos surrounding cancer with the help of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The Asian Women Cancer Group, recently awarded nearly £11,000 by Macmillan to fund a series of taboo-busting workshops is embarking on a mission to empower Asian women living with cancer in the region.


According to a press release from Macmillan Cancer Support these workshops provide a sanctuary for women to share their experiences, rebuild their confidence, and address the emotional scars that often linger long after cancer treatment.

Emma Hammett, Macmillan Engagement Lead for London, shared her insights: "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."

Hammett emphasised the crucial role of grants like the one awarded by Macmillan, as the Asian Women Cancer Group receives no government funding. The workshops, generously funded by Macmillan, encompass a wide range of activities.

These include informative talks by medical experts such as psychologists and breast cancer surgeons, self-care workshops focusing on mindfulness, exercise classes, and hair and beauty sessions aimed at helping the women regain their self-assurance post-treatment.

Among the women benefiting from the Asian Women Cancer Group is Saudamini, a 68-year-old retired Bank Manager from Queensbury in Harrow. She was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer following a routine mammogram.

AWCG 2 Photo credit: Macmillan Cancer Support

Saudamini's journey was complicated by the simultaneous cancer diagnosis her husband, Vipendra, received for bladder cancer.

Highlighting the importance of the Asian Women Cancer Group in her life, Saudamini said, "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."

On September 12th, the Asian Women Cancer Group hosted a Macmillan Coffee Morning, raising £745 to support individuals living with cancer.

The Macmillan Coffee Morning is a significant annual fundraising event for the charity, generating over £12 million for people affected by cancer last year.

Every contribution matters, as cancer can disrupt an individual's entire life. Funds raised at events like these go toward various aspects of support provided by Macmillan, including specialist nursing, information on cancer-related issues like hair loss, exercise, and nutrition, as well as financial assistance such as benefits advice and grants.

Additionally, Macmillan offers emotional support through free specialist counselling and local support groups, ensuring that individuals with cancer receive comprehensive care.

Every £33 can fund one hour of Macmillan Nursing, £300 can provide a Macmillan grant to help with cost-of-living challenges, and £510 supports 30 people reaching out to the Macmillan Support line on 0808 808 0000.

More For You

Streeting hails India’s global role as Labour backs bilateral relations

Wes Streeting addresses the Republic Day reception at the Guildhall in London last Tuesday (28),joined by Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Vikram Doraiswami

Streeting hails India’s global role as Labour backs bilateral relations

WES STREETING spoke of the priority prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour government attach to relations with India when he addressed a Republic Day reception at the Guildhall in London last Tuesday (28).

But the secretary of state for health and social care won over the large Indian crowd by paying an unexpected tribute to Rishi Sunak.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sri Lanka seeks to negotiate with Adani over renewable energy plants

Gautam Adani

Sri Lanka seeks to negotiate with Adani over renewable energy plants

SRI LANKA’S government started talks with India’s Adani Group to lower the cost of power from two wind power projects the group will build in the island nation’s northern province, the cabinet spokesman said last Tuesday (28).

Sri Lanka has been reviewing the group’s local projects after US authorities in November accused billionaire founder Gautam Adani and other executives of being part of a scheme to pay bribes to secure Indian power supply contracts. Adani has denied the allegations.

Keep ReadingShow less
Badenoch proposes stricter citizenship rules for all migrants

Kemi Badenoch delivers speech on January 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Badenoch proposes stricter citizenship rules for all migrants

CONSERVATIVE PARTY on Thursday (6) proposed a clampdown on all migrants by tightening citizenship rules and barring social benefit claimants from residency rights.

Kemi Badenoch, who took over from Rishi Sunak in November last year, outlined her first major policy agenda as Tory leader in a move seen as an attempt to win back the support of Conservative voters drawn to the far-right anti-immigrant Reform party.

Keep ReadingShow less
New body led by Sir Sajid Javid aims to amplify ‘unheard’ voices
Sajid Javid

New body led by Sir Sajid Javid aims to amplify ‘unheard’ voices

A NEW independent commission to improve cohesion would engage across all nations and regions of the UK by moving beyond Westminster-centric discussions and include more diverse voices, the director of British Future thinktank has said.

Sunder Katwala said building confidence across different groups will be a priority, as economic pressures and tensions due to Middle East conflict have polarised communities in the UK.

Keep ReadingShow less
Yarl’s-Wood-detention-centre-Getty

In 2018, she was detained at Yarl’s Wood detention centre after being told she would be deported. (Photo: Getty Images)

Court awards £100,000 to Pakistani asylum seeker over unlawful detention

A PAKISTANI asylum seeker has been awarded nearly £100,000 after a UK court ruled that she was unlawfully detained and subjected to breaches of her rights by the Home Office.

Nadra Almas, who arrived in the UK on a student visa in 2004, overstayed after her visa expired. She argued that returning to Pakistan would put her at risk as a Christian.

Keep ReadingShow less