Breast Cancer incidence rates have increased in Asian women in the UK mirroring the increased incidence rates in the Indian subcontinent. Hence, there is an overwhelming need for a dedicated support group for Asian patients with breast cancer as they have unique linguistic and cultural needs.

The new group, which launches on Friday October 7, with an afternoon of lectures open to everyone, will require active participation of Asian breast cancer patients and their carers. The support group members will be provided full professional support and training, and its main aims and objectives are:

• Support: provide support to Asian patients with breast cancer in their own language and respecting their cultural needs. It will be a valuable forum for them to interact and share their experiences with each other and provide support to newly diagnosed patients as well as survivors of breast cancer.
• Information: to consider what information is available at various steps of patient journey; whether it needs updating; translation into common Asian languages depending on the patients we serve; help develop written, audio and video materials.
• Communication: to support health professionals in communicating effectively with this group of patients eg is it meeting their needs, how we can improve it, role of interpreters and health professionals, giving patients more effective choice.
• Promote Breast Awareness: Help develop effective programme to raise breast awareness in South Asian women.
• Promote research and participation in clinical trials: Give their input to various research projects and represent interest of Asian patients, help increase participation of these patients in various trials.

The launch event is open to everyone. Please download the programme for details and for who to send your RSVP to.