Paul’s Cancer Support Centre was given the money to continue vital cancer awareness work with ethnic minority groups in the area.
A Battersea cancer support centre is celebrating after being awarded a £70,000 grant from the NHS.
Paul’s Cancer Support Centre, in York Road, was given the money to continue vital cancer awareness work with ethnic minority groups in the area.
The centre’s director, Petra Griffiths, said they will use the money to bring their work out of the centre and straight into the community.
“It is more effective for us to go to places where people are meeting already, rather than making them come to the centre,” she said.
“What we do is give a talk on cancer in general or on particular forms of cancer and how people can recognise the signs and symptoms.”
Ms Griffiths believes it is important to ensure people are educated about spotting the warning signs and taking preventative measures.
“It’s only in the last 20 years or so that awareness of cancer has changed in society and it takes time for attitudes to change,” she said.
“We found that a lot of people in the Asian community didn’t realise things such as healthy eating and exercise could help prevent cancer.
“They knew it could help prevent heart disease, but not cancer.”
Cancer is the leading cause of death for people under the age of 75 in Wandsworth and over 40% of cancers could be avoided if a healthy lifestyle is adopted.
A spokeswoman for NHS South West London says the centre has been given the grant as it provides vital work in the community.
She said: “People living with and beyond cancer often have specific needs which, if left unmet, can damage their long term prognosis.”
Along with advice and guidance, the centre offers services such as home visits to housebound cancer patients and their carers.
The centre also offers therapies and courses and cancer information available in a variety of languages.
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