Calgary cancer survivor starts South Asian support group [Video]

Grateful to be alive, a South Asian immigrant who has called Calgary home since 2021 is striving to help others.

Thirty-seven-year-old Harjeet Kaur is a co-founder of a group called Chai & Hope, which is a support group for South Asians who are dealing with cancer, including caregivers and family members.

“No one has to deal with this alone,” Kaur said. “It’s difficult when you’re in a country as an immigrant, navigating through the challenges.”

Kaur’s cancer journey

On Aug. 28, 2019, Kaur was diagnosed with stage four subcutaneous panniculitis T-cell lymphoma, a blood cancer, complicated by secondary HLH, an autoimmune disease.

There have only been 150 cases of this aggressive cancer reported worldwide.

“In my mind and body, I was feeling that something is not right,” recalls Kaur, who contended with fevers of 39 to 41 degrees Celsius, every day for three months.

She was then referred to an infectious disease specialist and was …