Blog

Olubukola Ayodele: Breast cancer changed my life long before I became a breast oncologist

Olubukola Ayodele/LinkedIn

Mar 23, 2025, 06:41

Olubukola Ayodele: Breast cancer changed my life long before I became a breast oncologist

Olubukola Ayodele, Consultant Medical Oncologist at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Breast cancer changed my life long before I became a breast oncologist. It took my mother. I know firsthand the pain of watching a loved one battle this disease. I know the fear, the unanswered questions, and the reality that Black women are still more likely to be diagnosed at later stages and experience poorer outcomes.

That loss didn’t just shape me—it fuels me.

As a Black female breast oncologist, I am not just a doctor. I am an advocate, a disruptor, and a voice for the women who have been unheard for too long. I refuse to accept the statistics that say Black women should have worse outcomes. I refuse to watch another woman be dismissed, misdiagnosed, or left behind due to systemic barriers.

My mission is clear: to change the narrative and fight for health equity in breast cancer care.

Educating and empowering Black women, so they know their risks, their rights, and the best options for early detection and treatment.
Challenging disparities in cancer care, from clinical trial representation to culturally competent treatment and support.
Advocating for systemic change, because closing the gap isn’t just about individuals; it’s about transforming the healthcare system.

This work is personal. Every patient I treat, every life I touch, is a testament to the women before me, including my mother, who deserved better.

For too long, Black women have been an afterthought in breast cancer research, support, and treatment pathways. That ends now. We belong in the conversation, in the trials, in the decision-making rooms. We deserve better.

It was a tremendous honour to be recognised at two recent events:

Invitation by Leanne Pero MBE to an intimate dinner with excellent Black female health professionals doing impactful work in the breast cancer space, organised by Black Women Rising UK to celebrate International Women’s Day IWD2025.
An award as Leicester Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) African Torch Bearer by the African Community at the Elevating African Voices event, organised by Karibani – Learn a New African Language Today, held at the African Heritage Alliance Centre in Leicester.

I am so grateful to these organisations for the recognition, and I do not take it for granted.

For me, equity is not a buzzword; it’s a responsibility.”

Olubukola Ayodele: Breast cancer changed my life long before I became a breast oncologist

African Heritage Alliance Centre Breast Cancer breast oncologist cancer cancer care fight against cancer Global fight against cancer International Womens Day IWD2025 Karibani Leanne Pero Leicester Leicestershire and Rutland LLR MedOnc Olubukola Ayodele OncoDaily Oncology University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.

James Van Der Beek: Battle with Colorectal Cancer and Marriage Challenges During Treatment

FDA approval: Pembrolizumab for HER2 positive gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma expressing PD-L1 (CPS ≥1): KEYNOTE-811 Trial

Changing the Future of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Care

OncoDaily Launches New Social Channel on Telegram – @OncoDaily

In Memory of Chadwick Boseman and His Colon Cancer Battle