How Safeena is overcoming barriers to cancer support for Muslim communities

As part of Macmillan’s commitment to inclusive cancer care for all, we’re proud to partner with Safeena, the first national Muslim cancer charity providing culturally and faith-informed support.

Cancer conversations can be difficult for everyone, and our research shows Muslim communities often face additional barriers.

A recent survey by Macmillan Cancer Support and Humankind* revealed that 37% of people from Muslim communities in the UK avoid saying the word 'cancer' compared to the national average of 29%. Just over half (52%) consider cancer a very sensitive personal topic, versus 45% nationally.

Further Macmillan analysis** indicates 43% of people from Muslim communities struggle to express their true feelings, and 28% feel uncomfortable discussing worries with others.

Safeena was created to address needs like these, providing cultural, religious, educational and emotional support, as well as practical help to bridge the gap in cancer support for Muslim communities. While Safeena is a faith-based organisation, its services and support are available for anybody who needs them.

Safeena officially launched in April 2023 during Ramadan. The organisation was founded after the mother of Sarfraz, one of the founders, was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

When doctors informed the family there was nothing more they could do, and Sarfraz's mother declined chemotherapy, the family searched for support resources. Despite finding various resources, none specifically addressed their needs as a Muslim family from a Pakistani background. Sarfraz's mother passed away in August of 2023 at age 58.

"We are trying to normalise conversations about the C word. A lot of people, especially when they reach the end (of their life), turn to faith." says Safia, who leads on education and awareness at Safeena.

Support available through Safeena

In 2022, the founders gathered with others who had experienced similar situations to discuss what kind of support would have been helpful. This became the foundation for Safeena's services.

Currently, Safeena offers:

• A befriending and bereavement support service with volunteers who have personal experience with cancer
• Community education and awareness programmes

"Mainstream services do not always meet faith or cultural needs. And when people feel unsupported, they come to us," explains Zahida, a trustee at Safeena who leads befriending, bereavement and palliative care services.

The organisation recognises that faith becomes particularly important for many people during difficult times.

Zahida brings her personal experience to her role, having been diagnosed with cancer 13 years ago and having used a befriending service herself with Breast Cancer Now. A year after her diagnosis, she became a volunteer and now has over 12 years of experience providing support.

Under her guidance, Safeena has trained over ninety befrienders, all with lived experience of cancer. The service has expanded to include bereavement support and is now incorporating palliative care.

"There is a taboo in our community about accessing support outside of immediate family, so we're doing events on Islamic aspects of palliative care," Zahida notes.

The Safeena Storybook

One of Safeena's innovative resources is a storybook designed to help parents explain cancer from a faith perspective in a child-friendly manner. The book was inspired by Zahida's personal experience. "It is based on my real experience. My son was six and I did not tell him about my diagnosis at first. I was too scared, and I did not feel strong enough. We used to call it 'the C word' at home," she shares.

The storybook uses simple analogies, like football, to explain cancer and addresses spiritual questions children might have. "My son asked me, 'Does God not like us?' and that's something the book helps explore," Zahida explains.

Although written from an Islamic perspective, the resource can be valuable for families of other faiths as well, and its approach could be adapted for discussing other serious illnesses.

Barriers to accessing cancer support

Conversations conducted by Safeena in Bradford and for Macmillan revealed that even highly educated professionals born in the UK felt isolated when seeking cancer support. Many reported that existing resources and support groups seemed primarily designed for white, middle-class women.

"Discussions with local communities in Bradford carried out by Safeena as part of its work with Macmillan revealed that many said they did not approach Macmillan because they assumed it was 'for white people.' People need to see someone like themselves to feel welcome." Zahida

The befriending service operates through a straightforward online referral process. After completing a form, one of Safeena's team members contacts the individual to discuss their specific needs; whether related to befriending, bereavement or anticipatory grief.

Clients are matched with volunteers based on shared backgrounds, cultural experiences and languages. The volunteer makes contact within 48 hours and establishes a regular communication schedule. Support is provided remotely, typically via phone calls, and can last 6-9 months depending on individual needs.

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. "Some people said they felt they could finally breathe after speaking to a befriender," Zahida shares. Others reported that the service provided a safe space to discuss concerns they couldn't share with family members.

The benefits extend to volunteers as well; with many describing the experience as fulfilling. Some former clients have even gone on to become befrienders themselves.

Whether you are navigating cancer yourself, supporting a loved one, or simply want to get more information, Safeena can help by:

• Connecting you with someone who understands. You can refer yourself or someone else via the Safeena website to Safeena's befriending service.
• Providing a gentle, faith-informed way to help children understand cancer: Download or order the Safeena storybook for free.
• Using your experience to support someone else. Volunteer as a befriender.

Contact us

You can also:

• Call the Macmillan Support Line for free on 0808 808 00 00
• Use our Online Chat
• Visit our prayer support forum and our living with cancer as a South Asian person forum on our Online Community to talk with people who have been affected by cancer, share your experience, and ask an expert your questions.

This information has been written, revised and edited by Macmillan's Digital Content Editor team and checked by Macmillan's Cancer Information Development team.

Learn more about our Digital Content Editors and how we produce our cancer information.