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Olubukola Ayodele: A Timely Reminder That Cancer Doesn’t Affect All Communities Equally

Olubukola Ayodele/LinkedIn

Jul 22, 2025, 12:05

Olubukola Ayodele: A Timely Reminder That Cancer Doesn’t Affect All Communities Equally

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

“July is Ethnic Cancer Awareness Month.

A timely reminder that cancer doesn’t affect all communities equally.

Recently, I recorded a podcast with ‘Karibani – Learn a new African Language today’ exploring cultural nuances around cancer, especially within ethnic minority communities hosted by the amazing Osas Adetutu.

The conversation touched on topics I see too often in clinic but not often enough in policy or public discourse:

Why do some communities delay seeking care, even when symptoms are obvious?
Why is there a silence, often times secrecy around cancer?
Why do beliefs like “what will be, will be” still shape attitudes to diagnosis and treatment?

The answers are layered. It’s not just about health literacy. It’s about history, trust, stigma, faith, fear and lived experience. In many cultures, cancer is still seen as a death sentence; something to hide, not fight.

In others, there’s a belief that seeking medical help could invite bad luck, or that suffering is part of divine will.

And let’s be honest, health systems haven’t always helped. Delays, dismissals and poor communication have left lasting scars, particularly among Black, Asian and other minoritised groups.

If we’re serious about improving outcomes, we can’t ignore culture. We need a cancer care model that listens, understands and respects people’s worldviews, even when we don’t share them.

So, what can we do?

Create safe spaces for open dialogue. People won’t talk about cancer unless we change how we talk about it.
Invest in community connectors and advocates. People who understand both the system and the community they serve.
Train healthcare professionals in cultural humility, not just awareness.
Challenge fatalism with hope, facts, and compassion. Early detection DOES save lives.
Make patient information reflect lived realities; in language, imagery and tone.

Culture isn’t the barrier. The lack of cultural INTELLIGENCE in healthcare often is.

This month, I’m choosing to keep the conversation going, not just in clinics or on LinkedIn, but in churches, mosques, salons, WhatsApp groups and anywhere else our people gather. Because silence is not protection. And fatalism is not fate.

If you’ve not listened to the podcast yet, you can find it here. I’d love to hear your reflections.”

Video Attached to the Post.

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