DUBAI // More than 50 female cancer patients have formed a group to offer each other moral and financial support during their treatment.
The Healthy Lifestyle group is made up mostly of working mothers, who come from countries such as the Philippines, India, Lebanon and Ethiopia.
May Dulay, 41, a Filipina, helped establish the group two months ago to help her sister Josefina Abaya, 52, who was suffering from breast cancer.
“The number one challenge is not having family support if you are an expat and cannot afford to go back home for treatment,” said Ms Dulay.
“Going through cancer treatment alone is not something anyone should go through. Moreover, in this part of the world, there are very few post-diagnosis support systems,” she said.
“So we share each other’s burden and pray for one another.”
After meeting other women in a similar situation in hospital, Ms Dulay began communicating with them on WhatsApp.
From there, an official support group was founded and the women had their first proper meeting in a Dubai hotel three weeks ago.
Their is also the financial challenge. Ms Dulay said her sister’s cancer treatment cost almost Dh1 million. So if members are short of funds, others try to help out with donations or loans.
Lama Riachi, 36, another member of the group, had ovarian cancer diagnosed in October 2013 and finished her treatment in February last year.
“Money is a big part while treating cancer. We want to make sure that no one should have to worry about affordability of the treatment while you’re fighting for your life,” she said.
She said many cancer patients had little understanding of how the treatments will affect their body and mind.
“The trauma has to be processed, long-term symptoms should be understood and the outlook on life in general can go in very different directions if emotional support isn’t there to rebuild strength and resolve,” she said.
Umaima Tinwala, 37, an Indian, had breast cancer diagnosed last year and continues treatment for the disease.
“From financial to emotional, from tips for a better life to tricks to cope with chemo, we share everything,” she said.
“So many women live alone here so this has become a sort of extended family for those who may not have anyone to hold their hand during the treatment or offer moral support.”
Ms Tinwala, a single mother with a nine-year-old daughter, said the most disconcerting part for many women is losing their hair during chemotherapy.
“There are a lot of women who opt to wear wigs or headscarves to cover their heads. I personally chose to stay bald. I was subjected to a lot of staring, mocking looks and abusive gestures because of my baldness,” she said.
“The saddest part was that it was mostly women who looked upon me with disgust. I personally don’t care much and am not affected by this. But I can imagine how horrific it must be for some women.”
People interested in the group can email Ms Dulay on mayajaya_ph@yahoo.com or Ms Riachi on lama@mojo-me.com.
akhaishgi@thenational.ae
