A group of women sat in a circle of chairs, in conversation with each other, during a Younger Women Together support service.

Psychological support for women from ethnic minority backgrounds

Categories: Personal diagnosis | Primary breast cancer | Ethnic minority

Take part in a study exploring how women from minority ethnic backgrounds experience NHS psychological support after breast cancer treatment.

What’s the title of the study?

Exploring perspectives of breast cancer survivors from a minority ethnic group in the UK towards psychological support provision available on the NHS

What’s the study about?

This study is exploring how women from ethnic minority backgrounds in the UK experience psychological support following breast cancer treatment. 

The researcher is particularly interested in understanding what kinds of emotional support were offered, how accessible those services felt, and what may have helped or prevented women from ethnic minority backgrounds from engaging with them. 

The researcher hopes this work could help services redesign and rethink their approaches to offering psychological care. 

Who’s organising it?

Name of project lead: Agata Kawalec

Job title: Researcher / Trainee Clinical Psychologist

Organisation: Lancaster University

Email address: a.kawalec@lancaster.ac.uk

Who can take part?

You can take part if you:

Are a woman aged 18 or over

  • Have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the past and have completed treatment 
  • Identify as Black, Brown, Asian, mixed or other minority ethnic background
  • Live in the UK
  • Have a good level of spoken English

Why do you want me to be involved?

There is limited information and support available to women from minority ethnic backgrounds after breast cancer treatment in many areas of the UK. 

By sharing your story, you can help shine a light on what works and what needs to change. 

What will you ask me to do?

If you choose to take part, you’ll be invited to take part in an interview lasting up to 1 hour. 
This can take place either:

  • Online (via Microsoft Teams)
  • In person (if you live in the Liverpool City Region)

The interview will explore:

  • What psychological support (if any) was offered to you
  • What helped or prevented you from accessing it
  • Your overall experience of emotional care
  • What support you would like to see made available in future

You’ll be asked if you’d like to receive a copy of the final study once it’s complete.

How do I get involved?

If you would like to take part, you can find more information and sign up via the online form. 

Or, simply email lead researcher Agata Kawalec at a.kawalec@lancaster.ac.uk.

If you are less confident with technology and would prefer an interview via telephone call, please email Agata via the email above and this can be arranged.

When’s the deadline?

31 August 2025

Get involved

Take part in an interview and help researchers understand how to improve emotional support for ethnic minority women after primary beast cancer. 

Sign up