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Olubukola Ayodele: I had the honour of participating in a discussion about the barriers to equitable cancer diagnosis and treatment

Olubukola Ayodele/LinkedIn

Jul 9, 2025, 04:36

Olubukola Ayodele: I had the honour of participating in a discussion about the barriers to equitable cancer diagnosis and treatment

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

“This marks my second visit to Parliament in just a week. This time, I had the honour of speaking and participating in an impactful discussion about the barriers to equitable cancer diagnosis and treatment.

The event was organized by the incredible team at From Me To You … The Art Of Survival as part of Ethnic Cancer Awareness Month, hosted by Bayo Alaba MP at the House of Commons. It served as a platform to shed light on the stark realities that many of us in oncology witness daily: the inequalities in cancer care that remain deeply embedded in our systems and ultimately cost lives. Research shows that people from ethnic minority groups typically visit their GP an average of three times before receiving the referrals for the help they need.

During our time together, we were able to:

Highlight the systemic and structural barriers affecting timely cancer diagnosis in marginalized communities, including issues of mistrust, delayed help-seeking, and rigid referral systems that were not designed with equity in mind
Share the advocacy work in which many of us are involved. I spoke about projects I have led, such as improving breast screening uptake in Black communities in Leicester and petitioning for policy changes related to screening age and representation in clinical trials
Emphasize the need for culturally appropriate pathways, advocating for earlier engagement with mental health support that empowers patients to take an active role in their care rather than treating them as passive recipients

One significant issue raised during the discussions was the lack of publication platforms for addressing inequalities in cancer care. We at London Global Cancer Week recognized this need and partnered with ecancer last year to help early career researchers publish their work (Look out for the abstract call in a few weeks).

It was encouraging to see so many powerful stakeholders in the room, all genuinely committed to effecting change in our healthcare system. Achieving equity is not the responsibility of one person or profession; it is a collective duty.

So, what are the solutions? They are within reach:

Policy reform that reflects the lived realities of underrepresented communities.
Mandatory data transparency regarding ethnic and socioeconomic disparities.
Community-based interventions that are backed by research and supported by adequate funding.
Representation not only at the bedside or in research but also in the rooms where decisions are made.

Thank you to Judith Neptial and Ashleigh Neptial for creating a space for these vital conversations and for keeping equity on the national agenda. I am grateful for all the new connections made. Let’s continue to bridge the gap so that everyone has an equal chance to be seen, heard and treated in a timely manner.”

Olubukola Ayodele