YOUR CANCER
tribe
UNLOCKING THE healing POWER OF SISTERHOOD
Hey there, I'm Cordelia - that's me in the middle with the women I call my cancer tribe.
I'm on a mission to show women with cancer how to unlock the power of sisterhood with sister circles, whether with your own friends or other people on their own cancer journeys.
Because I have learnt first hand just how powerful and healing it can be to hold and feel held by a group of supportive women as you go through your cancer journey.
On a mission...
In fact, it can be totally and utterly life changing.
What is a sister circle?
A Sister circle IS a gathering of women who come together to take it in turns to share and listen to one anotheR in a safe and supportive space.
Even if you have supportive friends and family, sometimes answering ‘how are you?’ when you’re out in a noisy bar or cafe or even in the quietness of your home can be so difficult to really answer.
There might be too many emotions, too much to say that you don’t know where to start or most of the time, not knowing whether the person asking really wants to know all the grits and all or is it just a courtesy question we’re all so used to asking but not actually answering.
Sisterhoods and sister circles are different. You’re all there to share and listen and so, when you’re sharing, there’s no doubt as to whether people want to hear.
You can share without the fear that you're oversharing or making it awkward by going too heavy.
Why we need it
It's this intention and willingness to be open and vulnerable, while holding the space for one another to do the same. And it is that mixture of vulnerability and mutual support that cultivates deep connection and unlocks the spirit of sisterhood
"The cancer treatment I had saved my life, the sisterhood I found through having cancer saved my soul
Nat
The sisterhood has given me a safe space to be exactly who I am, to process the losses and be held, to hold others whilst they are finding a way through their pain. It’s also reminded me to keep finding the light, keep laughing (there is always something to laugh about), savour the moments of joy. Our sisterhood has continually reminded me that I am more than my cancer.
What it’s done for us
HOW SISTERHOOD CIRCLES HAVE HELPED US ON OUR CANCER JOURNEYS…
Now I want you to experience it too
HERE IS HOW TO DO IT
"Our sisterhood connection has enriched my life more than I ever thought was possible.
Carly
Not in my wildest dreams did I think on that terrifying day of diagnosis that I would make some of the best friends ever and meet such special people that would lift me through darkness and feel like family to me. Who I can talk about everything with and who understand the uncertainty of cancer land so well.
Magical souls who have taught me so much about life and living with open hearts through all of life's challenges.
They are my soul sisters and my life is enriched in every way because of them ✨
What it’s done for us
HOW SISTERHOOD CIRCLES HAVE HELPED US ON OUR CANCER JOURNEYS…
Now I want you to experience it too
HERE IS HOW TO DO IT
"Finding this sisterhood has been a healing salve
Marje
In 2011, when I faced cancer as a young woman, I struggled to find a supportive community where individuals with similar cancer experiences could connect; I felt isolated on my journey. Meeting Cordelia and forming the profound, heartfelt bonds with these powerful, beautiful women, who I proudly call my sisters, has been a healing salve on the mental and emotional decade-aged wounds that cancer left in its wake.
What it’s done for us
HOW SISTERHOOD CIRCLES HAVE HELPED US ON OUR CANCER JOURNEYS…
Now I want you to experience it too
HERE IS HOW TO DO IT
"We get each other. We’ve GOT each other.
Em
I didn’t know I needed you all. My friendship cup was pretty full, enriched already by more than my fair share of incredible women willing to hold space, soothe with words, understanding and wisdom.
Then, I found you. We found each other. I think we all fell a little bit in love. The priceless ease that came from mutual understanding, sensitivity, connection and vulnerability ensured our bond was cemented almost instantly.
We get each other. We’ve GOT each other.
I’m not sure I’ve felt this before. One on one maybe, but such reciprocal and unconditional love from a group of women. A circle, sisterhood, tribe - whatever we want to call it. Safety. That’s one of the biggest gifts. Emotional safety. Being seen. Understood. Held.
Enriched. Emboldened. Enlightened.
What it’s done for us
HOW SISTERHOOD CIRCLES HAVE HELPED US ON OUR CANCER JOURNEYS…
Now I want you to experience it too
HERE IS HOW TO DO IT
My friend Selina Barker interviewed me for her podcast Another Way so that I could share with you and my daughter Loli, the power of sisterhood and encourage you all to give sister circles a go.
This is the place to start because it gives you a really good idea of what a difference it can make when you have a supportive group of women around you as you go through cancer and how to cultivate that kind of support and friendship.
Step 1:
LISTEN TO MY
PODCAST EPISODE
This will show you step by step how to plan and run a Sister Circle, whether you're doing it with friends or with other women going through cancer
Free guide
Guide to Sisterhood Circles
DOWNLOAD
THE GUIDE
Step 2
But a few years before I had started doing sister circles with a group of friends and so I pulled that sister circle around me.
I was diagnosed with stage 4, incurable brain cancer in 2018. I was 36 years old, had a 2 year old daughter and it was completely and utterly out of the blue.
My world changed in a split-second and suddenly I was facing a death sentence with an average life expectancy of 12-18 months. I was utterly devastated and the thought of going through intense treatment was very overwhelming.
How it all began
HEY THERE, I'm cordelia
I first experienced how powerful a sisterhood was when I had my daughter. I felt isolated, alone and lost without my previous identity of a city-working, independent, highly social, modern woman. My sisterhood rapidly kicked into action and pledged to help navigate and support me through motherhood. I’d never felt so supported knowing I had a group of women to call and fall upon when I needed to.
Then when I was diagnosed with cancer, the same group of women were straight by my side ensuring I knew that I wasn’t alone. Each one pledged what they felt I might need and going forward they stuck to their promises, whether it was taking me out on walks or looking after my daughter or simply popping round on days I couldn’t leave the house.
The power of sisterhood
When I reallised I needed to connect more with people going through cancer themselves I knew I had to create something similar within the cancer community. I started off by just reaching out to some people I felt aligned with on instagram and then I took the plunge of asking a few of them if they wanted to go away together for a few days to Cornwall knowing how much deeper connections become in real life.
Findiny my cancer tribe
Five of us went and it was one of the most magical life-changing trips I’d ever had starting from the train journey down!
Having the shared experience of cancer meant our conversations were immediately on a level that you would never reach without it. I call it the cancer super power because having that ability to connect so quickly is such a beautiful super power to have.
During that trip we talked (a lot), cried, laughed and danced. We went through all the emotions and came out with lifelong friends that have a closeness like none other. We are there for each other for every hospital visit, for every scan results and at 4am when you can’t sleep from anxiety.
I still have my other friends, of course, but these girls never need an explanation or a concern that they might not quite understand.
There’s also the shared feelings when you have good or bad news. We’re going through this together so even when one of us has a setback there’s likely to be good news from one of the others which you can also celebrate.
My dream is for the whole cancer community to feel this, in it together
One sisterhood at a time!
