Asian Women’s Cancer Group

Welcome  to  the  10th  Anniversary  newsletter.      

We   celebrated   our   10th  Anniversary   in  November  2013  with   family,   friends   and   local   community  well-­‐wishers.  The  group  has  evolved  over  the  years,  our  membership  has  been  growing  steadily  and  what  started  as  a  Breast  Cancer  Support  group  now  supports  women  with  all  types  of  Cancers.    We  have  established  links  with  the  local  hospitals  so  more  women  are  signposted  towards  the  group.  

Many   thanks   to   the   committee,   it   has  been  a  busy  year  with  Cancer  awareness  campaigns,   focus  groups,  media  interviews  with  BBC  Asian  Network,  and  social  events,  Relay  for  Life  and  a  lot  more  to  come.  

Our  daytime  activity  meetings  are  becoming  very  popular  with  regular  Yoga  sessions.  

My   thanks   to   the   committee  past   and  present   for   their   hard  work   and  all   our  members   for   their  continuous   support.   It   is   only   appropriate   that   I   share   with   you   all   Our   Group   history   and  achievements  over  the  decade  compiled  by  our  Vice  Chairperson:  

The group started in 2003 with three ladies meeting in the front room of a house. From that humble beginning, 10 years on, we can boast a membership of 70 ladies - making us one of the more successful Asian cancer support group in the UK.

We have to thank those three ladies - late Puspa Martin, Amarjit Panesar and Bharti Soni for having a foresight, Damyantiben Patel for her guidance and Macmillan Cancer support for providing the means to officially launch the group 10 years ago.

Since then Bharti Soni-Patel - the chairperson and her committee have worked selflessly to put us on the map.

The Group changed its name to Asian Women Cancer support group in 2012 to incorporate support to Asian women with all types of cancer.

Work  of  such  a  group  is  only  possible  through  the  wider  support  and  Goodwill  of  others.    Friends,  families   and   local   community   have   been   there   at   all   our   fundraising   events.   The   Lions   club   of  Sudbury,  the  Wanza  Samaj  of  Brent  and  Harrow  and  families  of  members  have  raised  funds  or  made  donations  to  ensure  our  work  continues.  

Ten  years  on  we  celebrate  our  success  as  well  as  pay  tribute  to  one  of  the  founder  member,  the  late  Pushpa  Martin  and  others  who  are  no  longer  with  us.    

Bharti  Soni-­‐Patel  

10th  Anniversary  Edition   2014  ISSUE    

Chairman’s Message

10 Years of Memories

I  was  diagnosed  with  Breast  cancer  2  weeks  after  my  50th  Birthday,  but  I  did  not  let  this  take  over  my  life.    After  the  general  tests,  initial  surgery  involved  a  lumpectomy  and  removal  of  two  lymph  nodes.    Two  weeks  later,  I  had  mastectomy  and  removal  of  further  18  lymph  nodes.    Histology  confirmed  the  diagnosis  of  Invasive  Lobular  Stage  2  cancer  involving  one  of  the  lymph  nodes.    The  tumour  was  oestrogen  and  progesterone  positive  (hormone  positive).  

 I  was  offered  two  treatment  options.    Option  1  was  to  go  through  the  normal  six  sessions  of  chemotherapy  followed  by  hormone  therapy,  and  Option  2  to  enter  an  Optima  Prelim  trial  which  was  fairly  new  in  the  NHS.    

The  trial  involved  sending  my  tissues  to  California  for  extreme  testing  to  clearly  identify  the  type,  kind  and  behaviour  of  my  particular  cancer.    The  main  purpose  of  the  trial  is  to  avoid  chemotherapy  if  not  necessary.    Research  has  now  shown  that  not  everyone  would  benefit  from  chemotherapy.    In  some  cases  when  test  was  not  available  patients  were  over  treated.    Research  is  always  going  on  to  improve  the  ways  of  treating  cancer.  Treatment  for  each  cancer  and  each  individual  differs.  

After  a  lot  of  thought  and  support  from  the  family,  I  opted  to  go  on  trial,  hoping  that  if  successful  it  would  be  of  benefit    others  with  similar  cancer.  

The  trial  was  randomised  control  trial,  so  the  doctors  here  would  not  know  the  outcome  of  these  trials.    My  doctor  and  I  would  only  know  the  recommended  treatment  plan  as  derived  from  Optima  test.    But  with  a  great  team,  I  was  assured  that  the  outcome  of  this  test  and  treatment  would  be  best  for  my  case.    The  tissues  sent  for  testing  showed  that  I  did  not  require  chemotherapy.  I  was  thrilled  as  I  fell  into  option  2-­‐  treatment  decided  according  to  the  test  result.  

My  treatment  involves  hormone  therapy  which  is  Tamoxifen  once  a  day  for  5  years,  Zoladex  injection  once  a  month  for  3  years.    I  am  monitored  by  the  team,  first  visit  after  3  months  and  then  6  months.    Health  and  well  being  questionnaire  every  3  months  for  first  year  and  after  2years  and  follow  up  (may  be  by  telephone)  every  year  for  10  years.  

I  am  pleased  not  to  be  on  chemotherapy.    I  feel  good  and  have  managed  to  get  back  to  work  and  resume  my  life.  

I  enjoy  each  day  of  my  life  that  I  have  been  blessed  with.    I  would  not  be  the  person  I  am  now  without  the  help  of  my  husband,  two  sons  and  a  daughter.  

 

Further  information  about  Oncotype  DX  Test:    

www.oncotypedx.com/en-­‐  US/Breast.aspx    

www.breastcancercare.org.uk  

 

Daksha Sonigra’s Journey

 1  Can  of  kidney  beans  1  can  of  chickpeas  and  1  can  of  Sweet  corn  

1/4  bunch  Dhana…  {coriander}  or  parsley...    1/2  cucumber...  diced  in  small  pieces  with  the  skin  on  

2  green  chillies...  {as  required  }  1  table  spoon  Soya  sauce  

1  table  spoon  of  Mint  Sauce  1  juice  of  lime...  

1  tablespoon  light  olive  oil  10  Cherry  tomatoes  {Halved}  

Wash  and  drain  Kidney  beans  and  chickpeas...  Make  sure  all  the  coloured  juices  are  washed  away.    

Drain  the  sweet  corn…  while  all  the  beans  are  draining.  

In  a  large  glass  bowl...  mix  together...  the  Soya  sauce,  olive  oil,  finely  chopped  green  chillies,  limejuice,  and  Mint  sauce...  add  all  the  washed  and  drained  beans  to  the  sauce  and  mix  well.  Place  in  the  fridge  until  needed.  

 5  minutes  before  serving  add:  the  chopped  Dhana.  Dice  cucumber  and  10  halved  cherry  tomatoes  to  the  bowl...  lightly  toss  all  ingredients  and  Serve.  

Taste  for  salt...  do  not  add  salt  at  first...  Soya  sauce  can  be  very  salty.    

Walla!!  

Shaila’s Bean Salad

Drop In Service  

We  are  proud  to  announce  a  drop  in  service  every  third  Tuesday  of  the  month  starting  from  15th  of  July  2014  at  the  

Jasper  Centre  Rosslyn  Crescent  

Harrow  HA1  2SU  

 

Call  us  for  further  information.  

 

We  would  like  to  thank  Macmillan  Cancer  Support  and  our  volunteers,  our  committee  members  and  everyone  who  have  supported  us.  

Daytime  Meetings  –  Second  Tuesday  of  Month    8th  July  2014  12th  August  2014  9th  September  2014  14th  October  2014  11th  November  2014  December  no  meeting    

 Victoria  Hall,  

Sheepcote  Road,  Harrow,  

Middlesex,  HA1  2JE  

1.30p.m  to  3.30p.m    

 Evening  Meetings  –  Last  Friday  of  Month  

 25th  July  2014  August  No  Meeting  26th  September  2014  31st  October  2013  28th  November  2013  December  No  Meeting    

 Nilkanth  Hall,  

Shree  Kutch  Satsang  Swaminarayan  temple,  Westfield  lane,  

Kenton,  HA3  9EA  

7.00p.m  to  9.00p.m    

 

Contact  Us    

Bharti  Patel  (chairperson):    07790  538499    Rohini  Patel  (Secretary):  07968  386798      

Kunji  Patel  (Vice  chairperson):  07934  591384    Shaila  Rasania  (Treasurer):  07972  347338  

 

 

Contact us if you wish to become a committed volunteer

 

 

info@asianwomencancergroup.co.uk  www.asianwomencancergroup.co.uk