South Asian Supernovas

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4 years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer for the third time. During this time, I connected with Kreena Dhiman onl...
27/11/2024

4 years ago, I was diagnosed with breast cancer for the third time. During this time, I connected with Kreena Dhiman online and we soon realised that we had a shared passion in raising awareness of breast cancer, addressing disparities in care, and educating the South Asian community about this disease.

The idea for South Asian Supernovas was planted over 2 years ago, when we founded this non-profit organisation. It has has grown and flourished over the last 18 months with the launch of the groundbreaking clothed breast cancer awareness campaign, facilitating focus groups to gain insight into the needs of the South Asian community, and delivered a keynote speech at the Oncology Professionals conference addressing the issue of Closing the Cancer Care gap in South Asians, among other notable accomplishments.

For the past 20 years, I have divided my time between working with patients in my integrative practice, conducting academic research, and advocating for health equity. As Kreena takes a step back, our organisation, South Asian Supernovas, is shifting its focus towards researching, educating, and promoting health equity. This aligns perfectly with my own passions and work.

I remain dedicated to promoting better outcomes for South Asians affected by breast cancer, both in my professional work and through my involvement with South Asian Supernovas. This includes conducting research, educating others, and addressing disparities in healthcare and cancer treatment. Please join us on our journey by following .supernovas and

I wish every success on her writing and future pursuits.

Toral x

It has been an absolute honour to have cofounded South Asian Supernovas and to have worked on improving outcomes and awa...
27/11/2024

It has been an absolute honour to have cofounded South Asian Supernovas and to have worked on improving outcomes and awareness for the South Asian community under the SAS umbrella for the past 18 months.
The organisation has made great inroads in raising awareness of breast cancer, highlighting inequities in care and connecting our the South Asian breast cancer community to one another.
My time at the helm of South Asian Supernovas has come to an end. However, as we reshape the organisation, it's important to know that my work in improving outcomes and awarenesss of Breast Cancer in the South Asian community very much remains.
From today, the organisations focus will shift to research and education and will be run by Toral.
I'll be continuing in my advocacy work, and will continue to find ways to ensure that our community is seen and heard.
Campaigns, creating human connection and amplifying the voices of our community will still be my priority and my passion for improving Breast Cancer outcomes for the South Asian community still remains. However this work will now be carried out, outside of South Asian Supernovas.
For the remainder of this year I'm slowing down and starting the festive season early. 2024 has been tricky, and in all honesty, the past few years have been heavy.
So, I plan to rest and to return to writing. From that place of reflection, 2025 and the future will start to unfold.
This certainly isn't goodbye.
I'll share more updates on .
Love always, K x

Established in 2023, South Asian Supernovas has grown from strength to strength in supporting the South Asian community ...
27/11/2024

Established in 2023, South Asian Supernovas has grown from strength to strength in supporting the South Asian community with their breast cancer care, from raising awareness and improving outcomes to helping to reduce the burden of breast cancer across the community.
To serve the South Asian Community better with their mission of improving outcomes in breast cancer, the organisation and its structure are changing. From 27th November 2024, South Asian Supernovas Ltd will shift to a focus on vital research and education, and will be led by Toral Shah.
Kreena Dhiman will continue to work on community support and campaigns, however this will be outside of South Asian Supernovas.
South Asian Supernovas Ltd are grateful and appreciative to Kreena as its co -founder and inspiration, and will support her in her ongoing endeavours.
Toral Shah and Kreena Dhiman will continue to provide invaluable education and advocacy through their individual work.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us on this journey and will continue to support us as we move into an exciting new chapter in serving the South Asian community to improve outcomes in breast cancer.
Kreena and Toral

Last but not least, meet our Supernova Eniyah who is the Creator of the brand Modest Street . She’s a make up artist an...
26/11/2023

Last but not least, meet our Supernova Eniyah who is the Creator of the brand Modest Street . She’s a make up artist and a Hijabi YouTuber as well as fashion blogger. Supermum to 5 children, she’s hugely passionate about equity and equality for all. Eniyah has supported this campaign since she heard the statistics about breast cancer in South Asians at our launch during Ethnic Minorities Cancer awareness month.
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Knowing how to check your breasts and chest and being self-aware of your body can save your life. Early diagnosis of breast cancer can mean you can be treated successfully. Do you know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer? has information in Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati and Urdu on how to self check.

THE TEACHER AND THE STUDENTThere best thing my teacher taught me was how to dance! Champa (Auntie) became my bharatnaty...
18/11/2023

THE TEACHER AND THE STUDENT

There best thing my teacher taught me was how to dance! Champa (Auntie) became my bharatnatym teacher when my Mum started up a dance school at our local temple back in the year 2000. I was relectuant to join at first, it was still my rebellion era, but once I started I never looked back, in fact even to this day I attend a Friday night Bharataym class where Champa not only teaches the skill of dance, she also emparts deep wisdom from hindu mythology. When I dance, I feel so liberated, so energised, so at home.

When Champa was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was so saddened to hear the news, but ill-equipped to support her. A decade later, when my own diagnosis came, she was by my side with tips and remedies as well as kindness and love.

We all experience cancer in different ways, but one thing i've learned is that having someone who has first hand experience by your side make a huge difference, they just get it, the fear, the sadness, the sorrow the grief, they understand it because they have lived through it.

I'm so grateful to have had Champa and I hope that by sharing our stories, we provide comfort to others who walk in oour shoes.

With Love, K x

11/11/2023

HAPPY DIWALI and HAPPY BANDI CHOR DIVAS

Globally, Diwali is recognised as the festival of light, but for different religions, there are different reasons for celebrating.

In Hinduism, Diwali is celebrated to mark the return of Ram, Lakshman and Sita to Ayodhya following 14 years of exile. It also marks the day that Goddess Durga destroyed a demon called Mahisha.

In Jainism Diwali marks the day when the last of the Jain Tirthankaras, Lord Mahavira, attained nirvana, also known as complete knowledge and enlightenment.

The word Diwali originates from the Sanskrit word Deepavali, meaning "rows of lighted lamps".

In Sikhism this day is also celebrated as Bandi Chhorh Divas, meaning 'Prisoner Release Day' the day marks the victory of the sixth guru, Guru Hargobind, from the designs of Emperor Jahangir, who had imprisoned him and 52 other princes with him, in 1619.

This is traditionally spent with family and loved ones, acknowledging the triumph of good over evil, light over dark.

Whilst you are with those you hold dear, remind them how important they are to you and nudge them to get breast-aware, doing so could one day save their life.

Love, Light and Happy Diwali, Kreena and Toral

MOTHER AND DAUGHTERBoth Toral and Mina have both been diagnosed with breast cancer, under the age of 50. Mina has 12 fa...
09/11/2023

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER

Both Toral and Mina have both been diagnosed with breast cancer, under the age of 50. Mina has 12 family members who have had breast cancer including her sister, cousins and Faiba - father’s sister. Toral was the youngest person to develop breast cancer in the family but has one other first cousin who has had breast cancer under 45.

5% - 10% of all breast cancers occur due to a known gene mutation. This means that you might inherit a faulty gene from one of your parents, increasing your risk of breast cancer and other cancers. You might have heard of genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 which can increase risk of breast cancer up to 80%. However, 15 - 20% of breast cancer cases may be familial meaning that there might be a gene mutation or something we don’t know about which increases our risk of breast cancer.

There is evidence that incidence of BRCA gene mutations might be higher in some South Asian populations, and there seems different BRCA mutations in the different South Asian ethnicities. (PMID: 35000471). Indian and Pakistani populations seem to have more BRCA1 mutations whilst there are more BRCA mutations in Bangladeshi populations and the other South Asian populations.

Knowing your family history of breast cancer is really important as this can help doctors to decide whether you require additional screening at a younger age. This might include ultrasounds or other types of screening including MRI scans. Self-checking regularly will also help with early diagnosis.

07/11/2023

MEET CHAMPA

One morning as I checked my breasts before getting out of bed I felt a hard lump between
my ribs. I reacted as if it had been an electric shock. My hand flew away. I had attended
my regular breast screening so was confused. How had this happened?

On calling my GP I was fast-tracked to hospital and a few days later I underwent a biopsy and my samples were taken for analysis. Initial reports suggested that my cancer was resistant to the drugs that were available at the time.

Fortunately, I was put on a trial for a new drug (which is now routinely used) and I responded very well to the treatment. Ensuring that Clinical Trials are truly diverse is incredibly important. We know that historically clinical trials have lacked inclusivity both in gender and race. A lack of diversity in clinical trials can have significant consequences for public health. If they only include participants from certain demographics, the results may not accurately reflect the potential outcomes for the broader population.

Whilst navigating my journey, when people in the Asian community found out that I had breast cancer, the
reactions were often upsetting:
a) I was treated as if I was dying.
b) I was made to feel like I have lost my cognitive function.
c) Misunderstood for losing all my hair and my looks?
Treatment was difficult particularly as I also developed Type I diabetes.

What helped my healing was my passion as a part -time classical dance
teacher, I carried on teaching. The support of my students and their parents helped me
through, together with the support of my family.

Now I am just as active as I was before it all happened and leading a full life.
I have got involved in this campaign because Kreena is one of my dance students, she is
an example of how to overcome this adversity. By carrying on all her social activities with
such a positive attitude she inspires us all.

This campaign is necessary because of the many adverse and life-damaging
myths about breast cancer that still persist.
Champa

MEET ANISHA Dr Anisha Patel is a GP with over 20 years experience in the NHS and along with being a bowel cancer survivo...
06/11/2023

MEET ANISHA

Dr Anisha Patel is a GP with over 20 years experience in the NHS and along with being a bowel cancer survivor, speaker, TV doctor and author of “Everything you’d hoped you’d never need to know about bowel cancer”. She is passionate about health education and breaking taboos and stigmas around cancer and cancer screening and reinforcing the fact that cancer does not discriminate.

We know that some patients often present later and often don’t take up screening invites in populations such as the South Asian community; and these patients are diagnosed later in these communities with a poorer outcome. As a result she is keen to educate and change this narrative, and close the health gap that currently exists when it comes to cancer diagnosis, care and screening in the South Asian communities using her own unique experience and background as both a doctor and a patient, working in the media, with charities and the NHS and using her platform.

She is keen to support South Asian Supernovas, to amplify the message and ensure health equality for all, because the bottom line is that something needs to change and we are that change.

05/11/2023

MEET IYNA

Iyna was diagnosed with Stage 3 Grade 3 breast cancer in 2015 aged 30. Her symptom was a large dense lump in her right breast and her treatment plan was chemotherapy, surgery followed by radiotherapy which ended 6 days after her 31st birthday. After completing her active treatment and 3 years on, Iyna was advised that she was at high-risk of ovarian cancer and would therefore require a double oophorectomy.

After 2 years of monthly ovarian suppression injections, Iyna went on to have a double oophorectomy which pushed her into a surgically induced (forced) menopause at the age of 35!

She's grateful to have her miracle baby (that's a story for another day) who's now 13 and is the force behind her every breath. It's been a challenging few year's but as Iyna often says, "cancer has been the gift that has allowed me to live my life on my terms and not how society expects"

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