Cancer survivors share their story for National Cancer Survivor Day

Sunday marks National Cancer Survivors Day (7 June) - a day dedicated to celebrating those who are living through a diagnosis or have survived cancer.

As part of this, the University of Leicester is highlighting the work of Leicester-based charity, Live Cancer Free, which is dedicated to saving lives by helping people make healthier lifestyle choices.

The charity, which was set up by former University of Leicester alumna, Dr Abeer Kholgi, has recently completed a film project to explore the experiences of people affected by cancer across the city and county’s diverse communities through oral histories, interviews, and documentary storytelling. 

Entitled ‘Heritage of Hope’, the short film aims to tell real stories of cancer survivors through their personal experiences and reduce stigma around cancer, while also highlighting the work taking place on cancer research within the University. 

Mina Marjoria, 72, a breast cancer survivor of Hindu faith is among those depicted in the film. 

She speaks of how her faith helped her deal with the diagnosis and that despite feeling frightened at first, how she ultimately believed that "what was meant to be, would be.” 

Fiona, a Leicester-born breast cancer patient from a Caribbean background spoke of feeling isolated because - for her family - health was a very private matter, while George West, a neck cancer survivor, said although he was old, he wasn’t senile and health professionals needed to remember that.

Professor Karen Brown, Professor of Translational Cancer Research from the University, is also in the film. She explains that she is working to develop therapies to reduce the risk of people developing cancer as well as treatments once diagnosis occurs.

“We can’t treat our way out of the cancer problem. We need to reduce the number of cases of cancer and switch to cancer prevention,” she says.

Speaking in the film, President and Vice chancellor of the University, Professor Nishan Canagarjah adds: “I’m very proud of the work colleagues are doing in cancer research because it’s a huge problem that’s facing many of us including colleagues and in my own family.”

Charity founder Dr Kholgi has a PhD in Cancer Chemoprevention from the University and says this shaped her interest in cancer prevention, research, and community engagement. 

Live Cancer Free was set up in 2015 with support from the University and the Careers Development Service.

Dr Kholgi said: “The film project hopes to preserve important lived experiences, reduce stigma around cancer discussions in underserved communities, while also highlighting the University’s contribution to cancer research. 

“Statistically one in every two people will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. Being able to talk about it and share experiences can really help and what better day to do this than on National Cancer Survivor Day.”