There is a real problem in the ethnic Asian community when it comes to cancer. A lot of [people in the community], especially the older people, don’t know what the illness is or how life-threatening it can be. Living in an Asian community and having cancer is very, very hard. It’s almost like a taboo subject.
Some of the Asian community think of cancer as being a punishment from God. They still think that you are being punished. They use words explaining they think someone, with a disease like cancer, must have done something wrong in a former life. They feel like it’s something to be ashamed of. It is completely taboo.
There is not the worry about health. Instead, it is a worry about what people will think. That is the wrong attitude to have. Who cares what people think? People genuinely feel embarrassed. A lot of Asian people don’t come forward, when they could be diagnosed much earlier and [have] their lives saved.
I was public about my cancer because I believe it is nothing to be ashamed of. I am passionate about that. If you think something is wrong, then it has to be found and be dealt with as quickly as possible. People need to get as much information as possible.
'There's nothing to be ashamed of.'
I found I couldn’t talk openly to the Asian community about my diagnosis. But I felt I needed to talk about it, [to] raise awareness for other ladies out there. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. I try to go to our temples and raise awareness in small groups. I try to have one-to-ones with these women, so they are aware of changes in their bodies. By communicating with them, my confidence has grown too. I get huge satisfaction from it.
Cancer has definitely changed me. I am stronger and more confident in myself. I'm passionate about people in the community feeling safe to talk about cancer and understand it.
Tag: DGN