Ex-councillor Saima shares her inspiring journey battling cancer

Saima Afzal, an ex-Blackburn with Darwen councillor, hopes her community organisation can offer support to women also dealing with the mental repercussions of life-changing cancer surgery.

Saima was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017. She said she would not have found the lump without the help of her cat, called Kat.

Saima Afzal's cat, Kat (Image: Saima Afzal)

She said: “My cat found it, believe it or not. A lot of things were going on with my health and we couldn’t figure out what was causing it until my cat found the lump.

"It was growing into my chest cavity wall so you couldn’t quite feel it.

“The cat clung to my ankles and wouldn’t leave me alone. He kept kneading and pushing in the same area.

"When I stopped him I realised there was a big lump. I wouldn’t have checked around the side so I would have missed it.”

Saima is currently cancer-free, after undergoing a lumpectomy and surgery to remove her lymph nodes.

However, her struggle is far from over as she has been left with debilitating symptoms after having the surgery.

These procedures left her with nerve damage on her right side, causing a loss of balance and coordination, and she experiences debilitating headaches which can impact her daily life.

Saima Afzal (Image: Be Well BwD)

Initially, Saima’s independence was compromised, as she could neither work nor drive for a period of time, affecting many aspects of her health and well-being.

She said: “Everyone’s symptoms will be different but I have been left with permanent nerve damage around the right side of my body. I have gained weight because of my medication.

“My eyesight is poor due to the medication because it makes my eyes dehydrated.

“The hardest part was when I went to go and get my eggs frozen but was told it wasn’t possible. One reason for this was because I had already started treatment.

“I didn’t give up the hope of having another child and that was taken away from me.”

Determined to recover, Saima began attending regular physio sessions at the local hospital, relying on friends to get there. She quickly realised that the more she moved, the better she felt.

With the guidance of a physiotherapist, Saima embraced online yoga and pilates sessions and when the pandemic struck, she shared these opportunities with other women in her community.

Saima is the founder of S.A.S Rights, a grassroots-based women-led organisation established in 1995 and officially registered as a non-profit organisation in 2016.

Professionals engage with diverse minority ethnic groups, with a focus on women, to provide support and assistance

It offers a range of services including well-being sessions, counselling, exercise classes and beyond.

Following her diagnosis, Saima made a bucket list. On the list was learning to ride a bike. Eager to pursue this ambition, she shared it with her group, and they ventured to Witton Cycling Centre to learn how to ride a bike.

S.A.S Rights group on a bike ride (Image: Saima Afzal)

The group now enjoy weekly led rides and despite her lack of balance, Saima is making progress. On days when her pain is more intense, she rides a trike instead, refusing to let her condition hold her back.

Saima said her cancer diagnosis enabled her to spend more time on the organisation, helping it to grow.

Saima said: “I was fortunate enough to be able to afford support after the diagnosis but what about all those that can’t? S.A.S is here for anyone who needs help.

“I know how tough it is to struggle, recovery isn’t cheap - so I try and make sure that others who need help aren’t held back because of money

 “When I got ill I really focused on the group and helped it to grow. Maybe it wouldn’t have grown as fast if I didn’t get cancer.

“I am proud I have been able to keep the organisation going and that I can be a ‘facilitator’ in the group. It’s not just me though, other members have helped with it.”

Find out more about S.A.S Rights on the website at: www.sasrights.org.