I had also been diagnosed with Breast Cancer in Feb 2000. After going through many tests, I was finally told that I had Breast Cancer and I was lucky as it was caught at an early stage. I was still very devastated with the news even though I was put on the 'lucky' list! I went through more tests, lumpectomy surgery followed by interim radiotherapy.

Throughout my journey from being diagnosed with cancer, through treatment and follow-up care, I was given full support by all my family and friends. However, I still desperately wanted to talk to a female with the same experience who also shares the same culture. I wanted the person to understand what I was going through physically and mentally. I wanted her to tell me that she also went through the same experience and have come through it successfully!
I wanted to know how Asian women coped with it in our culture, since this is an issue that is personal. Culturally, we are not supposed to talk about this embarrassing subject openly!

It was during the early stage of my treatment that I decided that I wanted to join and find other women who were in a similar situation as me. Luckily, I was introduced to Pushpa and Bharti by a researcher from a local hospital. As a result, this self-help group (AWBCG) was set up, as we all shared the same goal - that was to help other women, like us, to overcome their anxiety as they go through their journey in coping with Breast Cancer!