Black Women Rising: new magazine

I recently got my copy of the wonderful 'Black Women Rising’ magazine - another opportunity by teh inspiring Leanne Pero and the gang at Black Women Rising to empower women of colour as they navigate their cancer journeys. There are also plans already under way for Black Men Rising.

The mission at Black Women Rising is to educate, inspire and bring opportunities for women from the BAME community, to connect with one another and share their stories, without fear or shame. As their website says; “As well as..generic injustices, the unhelpful myths and taboos surrounding cancer within the BAME community had ultimately stopped people from speaking out about their ordeals, leading to a lack of awareness and education within BAME households around cancer, its signs and symptoms. This ultimately led to the devastating outcomes of late stage diagnoses and higher mortality rates in some cancers than their white counterparts.”

Check out their podcasts

Black Women Rising have support groups and podcasts which I have mentioned in a previous blog - see here (i). This magazine will be another way to reach out. It covers loads with a look at the project, many voices from folk living with cancer, signs and symptoms, what to say to loved ones, hair, beauty, sex, gratitude, menopause, LGBTQI, genetics and so much more.

Options can be overwhelming

The magazine touches on lifestyle with Toral Shah talking nutrition and a section on exercise with Jonelle Lewis - from an integrative health perspective there is lots more evidence that could have been included around other stuff we can do to build our health. However I see one of the biggest challenges being about how not to  overwhelm people with too much info. 

 

In the recent ‘Your Life and Cancer’ online event with 40 plus global experts it was more than clear how much evidence is out there. Some options cost loads while others are almost no cost. But how do you choose? And how do you find what is right for you? 

The magazine focusing on nutrition and exercise is clearly a great place to start. However as I noted in the previous blog (mentioned above) (i), complementary medicine like conventional treatment does also not seem to be able to serve the BAME community in terms of people living with cancer.

That leads me to one of the sections in the magazine that I particularly liked - looking at what we can do as a community to help banish stigma. 

 

The graphic opposite covers some of the ways which are already underway. I know we can all do more. This magazine is certainly a great start - could they be available in oncology waiting rooms? How else can we help reach out?

 
See more and order your copy of the magazine at: https://www.blackwomenrisinguk.org/

 

Notes

 

(i) See my blog with links to Black Women Rising podcasts, support groups and a film of Leanne talking at Trew Fields with the equally inspiring late Saima Thompson:  https://myunexpectedguide.blogspot.com/2020/07/yes-to-life-stands-in-solidarity-with.html

(ii) https://www.yourlifeandcancer.com/