WOLLONGONG ADVERTISER
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Mount Pleasant woman Nyan Thit Tieu knew when she was being treated for breast cancer that other Asian women in the Illawarra were just as sick.
But the 67-year-old from Burma was dismayed that she didn't see any of them taking advantage of the many support services and programs readily available.
Mrs Tieu decided then that she wanted to give these invisible women a voice. Last week she launched the Sisters Cancer Support Group.
The new support group is for women from culturally diverse backgrounds who are or have been affected by cancer or are supporting friends or relatives with cancer.
In a culturally safe environment, over cups of tea, women touched by cancer can share their personal journey and thoughts with other women who have been through a similar experience.
Mrs Tieu, said the new support group was open to women affected by any kind of cancer and would help promote cultural awareness to the wider community.
"Our group is open to women from culturally diverse backgrounds who have been affected by any cancer, or are supporting loved ones through their cancer journey," she said.
"We will meet monthly over morning tea to share and give each other social, emotional and spiritual support. We also offer information and resources about cancer to those in the area who just want to find out more."
The retired teacher, who has lived in Wollongong for the past 38 years, was diagnosed with breast cancer in May 2013.
"With God's blessing and the fantastic oncology team at Wollongong Cancer Care Centre, I survived the cancer ordeal of surgery, chemo and radiation, which I actually completed only last December," Mrs Tieu said.
"I managed to access the many support services and programs which continue to be an immense help to me and my family. But I was dismayed that other women from CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) background weren't participating in these services.
"Wollongong City Council statistics show that 75,000 people from a 200,000 population come from a culturally diverse background. That is a large group, and they are invisible, their voices are not heard, particularly in the cancer area.
"All the facilities are here. Hopefully, our group can make these women feel comfortable to slowly seek the support of other service providers.
"We are a diverse group already. We have six or seven different nationalities. I'm Burmese, there is a Lebanese lady, a lady from Canada, there's one from Nigeria and there's one from Malaysia," Mrs Tieu said.
Sisters Cancer Support Group has been formed through collaboration with the Breast Cancer Network Australia, Cancer Council NSW, Multicultural Health Service, Wollongong City Council and the Multicultural Communities Council of Illawarra (MCCI).
Cancer Council community engagement manager Tina Hunt said the Sisters Cancer Support Group will be based on the "Essence of Health" model of holistic care which focuses on a wellness approach to living with cancer.
The group will meet on the first Tuesday of every month at MCCI's office at 117 Corrimal Street, Wollongong from 10am to noon.
Information: thit.tieu@gmail.com or 0430 502 435
