This Isn’t Just Me: The Power of Community, Connection and Speaking Up

In this deeply moving and powerful conversation, Luan speaks with Rena Patel, who was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at 40—just after her daughter turned four.Rena felt isolated, unsure where to turn, as she didn’t know anyone in her community who’d been through something similar. On top of that, she often felt unseen and unheard within a healthcare system that doesn’t always account for the diverse needs of women from ethnic minority backgrounds, or understand the different cultural perspectives of their communities. From not being shown how to identify radiotherapy burns on non-white skin to struggling to find wigs that matched her hair, these gaps added to the emotional weight of her treatment.Connections can help change our experiences. Rena shares how finding Black Women Rising—a UK-based cancer support project for women of colour—opened the door to community, confidence, and self-advocacy. It helped her feel less alone and more empowered to ask for the care that truly met her needs.In this episode:• Why self-trust and speaking up are essential in healthcare• The importance of culturally inclusive supportive care• How shared stories and visibility reduce isolation• The role of connection and community in building self-advocacy skills• How openness can turn silence into strength—for you and those around youAs an Ambassador of Black Women Rising Rena is helping to build a future where all women—regardless of background—feel seen, heard, and supported. For herself, for her community, and for her beautiful daughter.For links to the resources in this show - visit the episode blog page.Rate & review—your feedback helps more women find this empowering content!Follow & join the conversation on Instagram: @luanlawriewoods Connect with Luan:Follow Luan on InstagramGet Luan's free SSASy guide to Self-AdvocacySign up for Luan's NewsletterCheck out Luan's websiteDisclaimerCREDITS:Host: Luan Lawrenson-Woods, Self-Health AdvocatePost-production: Paddy from Goosewing Sounds Ltd (UK) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.