A CANCER awareness group has been started by a Chigwell woman who wants to increase awareness of the disease to Asian women.

Shanta Poduval has joined forces with ten other women in Chigwell among form a support group for Asian women suffering from cancer. The newly-formed committee aims to encourage women to get checked by their GPs as soon as they feel there may be something wrong, to increase early diagnosis.

Mrs Poduval said: "A lot of Asian women are at home all the time, and their priorities are their husbands and children. As an Asian woman myself, I know that when you get married those become the priorities. But these women also need to take care of themselves, and not leave it until they feel extremely ill to go to the doctor."

Mrs Poduval said her group would be going into hospices to support Asian women with cancer, as well as holding charitable events to raise money.

She said: "I've wanted to do this for two years, and the time is right. We're a group of professional women who want to do something to help. If someone rings us, who needs support, then one of us can get in touch and do what we can.

"We will be going into hospices, to offer support. We will also be holding lunches, raffles and other events to raise any money we can to help."

To volunteer with Mrs Poduval's group, or for more information ring 07788 831233.