Meet The Founder
Meet The Founder
The Begining
My name is Judith Neptial. I grew up in East London, where I worked as a psychotherapist and raised my daughter as a single mother.
This is my story.
Initially, I entered the hospital for reconstructive surgery on my bile ducts. Born without a bile duct, I had undergone surgery as a child and had been under the care of a hepatobiliary consultant from a very young age.
Symptoms
Starting in 2015, I began to experience increasing issues with my ducts. Blockages became
more frequent, despite having stents inserted and my ducts ballooned to alleviate the
problem. I started losing weight and continually complained of fatigue to my GP and
consultant. Numerous scans yielded no answers. In desperation, during a consultation in
January 2018, I broke down. I could not endure the relentless fatigue, stomach pain, and
weight loss. It was then decided that surgery to reconstruct my ducts was necessary—at no
point was cancer mentioned. However, it should have been.
In July 2018, after surgery, I emerged to hear the devastating news: the surgery had been
difficult due to the discovery of cancer. I was told it was terminal and, due to its location, I
likely wouldn’t live past the year. I was advised to spend my remaining time with loved ones. I had cholangiocarcinoma, and survival seemed impossible. What did that even mean? I was about to find out, and what I discovered would change my life.
Harsh Reality
I learned that factors like race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic disparities in primary care are
linked to poorer cancer outcomes. The symptoms I had experienced were, in fact, consistent
with cholangiocarcinoma, yet neither my GP nor my consultant recognized this, despite the
known predisposition to cancer for those with choledochal cysts like mine. I was never
informed of this, and I still struggle to understand why.
We must raise awareness—this issue affects everyone, not just people of colour. Many
patients feel excluded from their care plans. When a community is already at a disadvantage
regarding awareness and engagement, it exacerbates an already challenging situation. If our
healthcare providers do not prioritize these issues, what chance do people like me have?
Communication, awareness, and engagement are vital for survival. A lack of awareness
nearly cost me my life.
In a state of frustration and fear, I turned to the internet in search of an
organization—anyone who could help me live. Eventually, I found an organization that
pointed me in the right direction. The relief was immense. The information and guidance I
received were invaluable; here was an organization that equipped me with tools to fight for
my life. Until that point, I had been unaware that hospitals have specialties, and I was not
under the care of one that specialized in my condition. Given the rarity of my illness, I couldn’t help but wonder how many others were suffering due to a lack of knowledge.
In Search For Help
Why had I to search for this information when it could have saved my life? Why was it not
readily available? Why did my GP and consultant dismiss my concerns? Were issues of
stereotypes and cultural awareness at play? Had dynamics of power and privilege influenced
their treatment of me? These uncomfortable questions flooded my mind, and I had to
confront them to understand my situation.
I was able to connect with a consultant who understood my case. He referred me to two
specialists: who were both incredible and nominated me for a clinical trial using
immunotherapy. I believe two things keep me here today: God and knowledge. Why, if my
life was at stake, was I not informed about this trial? Was it my responsibility to seek this out
while I was fighting for my life? Clinical trials were a foreign concept to me, and I questioned
how many others in my community were dying due to a lack of information. This brings us
back to awareness, engagement, and inclusivity—issues I believe are not being effectively
promoted within my community.
I also realized that there is no legislation ensuring that people of colour are included in
clinical trials, which played a significant role in my journey. Patients are diverse, and clinical
trials should reflect the wider population. Current efforts to promote diversity in research are
insufficient. How do I know? Because my journey is a testament to this reality.
Be The Change You Want To See
It has been suggested that more research is needed to understand the lack of diversity in
early-phase studies. However, those of us in marginalized communities are well aware of the
reasons for non-engagement and the necessary interventions. We are a grassroots
organization that believes in a dual ripple effect—one that flows upward and downward until
they meet in the middle.
I formally registered From Me To You The Art of Survival as a community interest company,
and we are now a registered charity due to our growth. Our FM2U Journey Partners—a
small team of individuals with lived experience or who have cared for someone with
cancer—play a crucial role in our project. They provide empathy, improve communication
between healthcare providers and patients, and encourage participation in clinical trials.
Most importantly, they support our members by helping them reflect on their healthcare
information and accompany them to medical appointments when needed.
Who We Are
Our core pillars are Community, Advocacy, and Research. We strive to collaborate with like-
minded organizations to raise awareness and empower our community, as we currently feel
unseen and unheard. I have many questions regarding my diagnosis and the research
surrounding it. If my lack of engagement with awareness nearly cost me my life, I must ask:
how much will my community's lack of engagement with research cost us? Could my life
hang in the balance due to this non-engagement and the absence of accountability from
healthcare providers? We advocate for person-centered care, but how can it be that if I am
not included in the conversation?
Had I not challenged and researched my diagnosis, I genuinely believe I would not be alive
today. I learned the hard way that we must take control of our medical health. Sometimes,
we need to confront perceptions—ours and others—to survive. Awareness, knowledge, and
research are crucial. The medical system can often feel like a maze, and we require help
navigating it. This is why From Me To You: The Art of Survival was born. We share our
experiences of living with cancer in the hope that that we will be included in the
conversation of life, allowing us all to live. Is that too much to ask?
We Provide
A Black cancer Support Group
Members of From Me To You are ‘experts by experience’. We offer support
throughout the entire cancer journey and the group enables the Black community
to express how they feel with people they are culturally aligned with. Monthly
support meetings are held, where all members come together to catch up and
gather relevant information. During our meetings we became aware that we had
a large number of men present. We also became aware that men may not always
feel comfortable discussing specific issues during a mixed-gender support group.
Our aim is to provide a safe space for all of our members to talk freely openly and
honestly. As a result, our Mens’ group was birthed, which is facilitated by our core
OG member Sean Baker. We have also since developed a Women’s and Carers
group to support carers who care for someone that has a cancer diagnosis.
Hospital Visits (Virtual or In Person)
We can accompany members and those who need it to hospital appointments.
Many Black people often don’t lean on family members due to taboos within the
community. Provision of this service allows us to support individuals on their
journey by helping them to communicate effectively with their healthcare provider;
whether it be understanding the disease or exploring their options.
Nutritionists/ Alternative therapy visits
From Me to You can provide access to nutritional advice to our members on
culturally specific beneficial food sources.
Research
From Me to You offers to research clinical trials for members who would like to
access them.
We also Provide
Panels
We have successfully organised panel discussions as part of our ‘Cancer Loss of Identity
Series’ and general discussions on topics in relation to Cancer and the Community. This
has proved to be extremely successful in that it not only involves those with cancer but the
whole community. We undertake various panel discussion for men and women with cancer
and members of the public have contacted us afterwards to say that they have found these
discussions to be hugely beneficial.
Workshops
Our workshops are based on training and awareness with a
facilitator or organisation.
Multicultural Sensitivity Training for healthcare professionals
From Me to You: The Art of Survival delivers training to medical professionals to help
develop the knowledge, skills, and awareness needed to interact effectively with different
cultural communities. It focuses on cultural awareness, knowledge, sensitivity,
communication and more. The goal is to enhance professionals' cultural competence and
promote equitable and respectful interactions with individuals from different cultural
backgrounds in various fields of work. This training has been co-designed with the
community and is CPD accredited.
Empowerment Training to the Community
We provide Empowerment Training to the community to ensure that everyone will have
equal access and knowledge to all healthcare services and provisions this has also been co-
designed by the community.
Social events within the Community
We have hold dinners for our members which have been fantastic confidence boosters for
our community, helping them to engage with others who have undergone similar journeys
and to form new meaningful relationships. This camaraderie aids in helping to rebuild self-
esteem, as sadly, when a cancer diagnosis is received a whole way of life can change.
Podcast
From Me to You: The Art of Survival will be releasing a podcast with a renowned celebrity
broadcaster who is also a cancer survivor. This will be released in 2024.
Contact Us
Telephone No: 07534804434
Linked In: From Me To You The Art of Survival
Website: frommetoyou-uk.org
Instagram: Frommetoyou.aos
LinkedIn: From Me to You The Art of Survival
Email: Info@frommetoyou-uk.org
Facebook: From Me To You Page
The Begining
My name is Judith Neptial. I grew up in East London, where I worked as a psychotherapist and raised my daughter as a single mother.
This is my story.
Initially, I entered the hospital for reconstructive surgery on my bile ducts. Born without a bile duct, I had undergone surgery as a child and had been under the care of a hepatobiliary consultant from a very young age.
Symptoms
Starting in 2015, I began to experience increasing issues with my ducts. Blockages became
more frequent, despite having stents inserted and my ducts ballooned to alleviate the
problem. I started losing weight and continually complained of fatigue to my GP and
consultant. Numerous scans yielded no answers. In desperation, during a consultation in
January 2018, I broke down. I could not endure the relentless fatigue, stomach pain, and
weight loss. It was then decided that surgery to reconstruct my ducts was necessary—at no
point was cancer mentioned. However, it should have been.
In July 2018, after surgery, I emerged to hear the devastating news: the surgery had been
difficult due to the discovery of cancer. I was told it was terminal and, due to its location, I
likely wouldn’t live past the year. I was advised to spend my remaining time with loved ones. I had cholangiocarcinoma, and survival seemed impossible. What did that even mean? I was about to find out, and what I discovered would change my life.
Harsh Reality
I learned that factors like race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic disparities in primary care are
linked to poorer cancer outcomes. The symptoms I had experienced were, in fact, consistent
with cholangiocarcinoma, yet neither my GP nor my consultant recognized this, despite the
known predisposition to cancer for those with choledochal cysts like mine. I was never
informed of this, and I still struggle to understand why.
We must raise awareness—this issue affects everyone, not just people of colour. Many
patients feel excluded from their care plans. When a community is already at a disadvantage
regarding awareness and engagement, it exacerbates an already challenging situation. If our
healthcare providers do not prioritize these issues, what chance do people like me have?
Communication, awareness, and engagement are vital for survival. A lack of awareness
nearly cost me my life.
In a state of frustration and fear, I turned to the internet in search of an
organization—anyone who could help me live. Eventually, I found an organization that
pointed me in the right direction. The relief was immense. The information and guidance I
received were invaluable; here was an organization that equipped me with tools to fight for
my life. Until that point, I had been unaware that hospitals have specialties, and I was not
under the care of one that specialized in my condition. Given the rarity of my illness, I couldn’t help but wonder how many others were suffering due to a lack of knowledge.
In Search For Help
Why had I to search for this information when it could have saved my life? Why was it not
readily available? Why did my GP and consultant dismiss my concerns? Were issues of
stereotypes and cultural awareness at play? Had dynamics of power and privilege influenced
their treatment of me? These uncomfortable questions flooded my mind, and I had to
confront them to understand my situation.
I was able to connect with a consultant who understood my case. He referred me to two
specialists: who were both incredible and nominated me for a clinical trial using
immunotherapy. I believe two things keep me here today: God and knowledge. Why, if my
life was at stake, was I not informed about this trial? Was it my responsibility to seek this out
while I was fighting for my life? Clinical trials were a foreign concept to me, and I questioned
how many others in my community were dying due to a lack of information. This brings us
back to awareness, engagement, and inclusivity—issues I believe are not being effectively
promoted within my community.
I also realized that there is no legislation ensuring that people of colour are included in
clinical trials, which played a significant role in my journey. Patients are diverse, and clinical
trials should reflect the wider population. Current efforts to promote diversity in research are
insufficient. How do I know? Because my journey is a testament to this reality.
Be The Change You Want To See
It has been suggested that more research is needed to understand the lack of diversity in
early-phase studies. However, those of us in marginalized communities are well aware of the
reasons for non-engagement and the necessary interventions. We are a grassroots
organization that believes in a dual ripple effect—one that flows upward and downward until
they meet in the middle.
I formally registered From Me To You The Art of Survival as a community interest company,
and we are now a registered charity due to our growth. Our FM2U Journey Partners—a
small team of individuals with lived experience or who have cared for someone with
cancer—play a crucial role in our project. They provide empathy, improve communication
between healthcare providers and patients, and encourage participation in clinical trials.
Most importantly, they support our members by helping them reflect on their healthcare
information and accompany them to medical appointments when needed.
Who We Are
Our core pillars are Community, Advocacy, and Research. We strive to collaborate with like-
minded organizations to raise awareness and empower our community, as we currently feel
unseen and unheard. I have many questions regarding my diagnosis and the research
surrounding it. If my lack of engagement with awareness nearly cost me my life, I must ask:
how much will my community's lack of engagement with research cost us? Could my life
hang in the balance due to this non-engagement and the absence of accountability from
healthcare providers? We advocate for person-centered care, but how can it be that if I am
not included in the conversation?
Had I not challenged and researched my diagnosis, I genuinely believe I would not be alive
today. I learned the hard way that we must take control of our medical health. Sometimes,
we need to confront perceptions—ours and others—to survive. Awareness, knowledge, and
research are crucial. The medical system can often feel like a maze, and we require help
navigating it. This is why From Me To You: The Art of Survival was born. We share our
experiences of living with cancer in the hope that that we will be included in the
conversation of life, allowing us all to live. Is that too much to ask?
We Provide
A Black cancer Support Group
Members of From Me To You are ‘experts by experience’. We offer support
throughout the entire cancer journey and the group enables the Black community
to express how they feel with people they are culturally aligned with. Monthly
support meetings are held, where all members come together to catch up and
gather relevant information. During our meetings we became aware that we had
a large number of men present. We also became aware that men may not always
feel comfortable discussing specific issues during a mixed-gender support group.
Our aim is to provide a safe space for all of our members to talk freely openly and
honestly. As a result, our Mens’ group was birthed, which is facilitated by our core
OG member Sean Baker. We have also since developed a Women’s and Carers
group to support carers who care for someone that has a cancer diagnosis.
Hospital Visits (Virtual or In Person)
We can accompany members and those who need it to hospital appointments.
Many Black people often don’t lean on family members due to taboos within the
community. Provision of this service allows us to support individuals on their
journey by helping them to communicate effectively with their healthcare provider;
whether it be understanding the disease or exploring their options.
Nutritionists/ Alternative therapy visits
From Me to You can provide access to nutritional advice to our members on
culturally specific beneficial food sources.
Research
From Me to You offers to research clinical trials for members who would like to
access them.
We also Provide
Panels
We have successfully organised panel discussions as part of our ‘Cancer Loss of Identity
Series’ and general discussions on topics in relation to Cancer and the Community. This
has proved to be extremely successful in that it not only involves those with cancer but the
whole community. We undertake various panel discussion for men and women with cancer
and members of the public have contacted us afterwards to say that they have found these
discussions to be hugely beneficial.
Workshops
Our workshops are based on training and awareness with a
facilitator or organisation.
Multicultural Sensitivity Training for healthcare professionals
From Me to You: The Art of Survival delivers training to medical professionals to help
develop the knowledge, skills, and awareness needed to interact effectively with different
cultural communities. It focuses on cultural awareness, knowledge, sensitivity,
communication and more. The goal is to enhance professionals' cultural competence and
promote equitable and respectful interactions with individuals from different cultural
backgrounds in various fields of work. This training has been co-designed with the
community and is CPD accredited.
Empowerment Training to the Community
We provide Empowerment Training to the community to ensure that everyone will have
equal access and knowledge to all healthcare services and provisions this has also been co-
designed by the community.
Social events within the Community
We have hold dinners for our members which have been fantastic confidence boosters for
our community, helping them to engage with others who have undergone similar journeys
and to form new meaningful relationships. This camaraderie aids in helping to rebuild self-
esteem, as sadly, when a cancer diagnosis is received a whole way of life can change.
Podcast
From Me to You: The Art of Survival will be releasing a podcast with a renowned celebrity
broadcaster who is also a cancer survivor. This will be released in 2024.
Contact Us
Telephone No: 07534804434
Linked In: From Me To You The Art of Survival
Website: frommetoyou-uk.org
Instagram: Frommetoyou.aos
LinkedIn: From Me to You The Art of Survival
Email: Info@frommetoyou-uk.org
Facebook: From Me To You Page