Olubukola Ayodele: Speaking about breast cancer at the New Testament Church of God

Olubukola Ayodele, Consultant Medical Oncologist at University Hospitals of Leicester Cancer Research Centre, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Community engagement is vital in reducing breast cancer disparities among black women, who often face higher incidence rates and worse outcomes compared to other populations.

One effective strategy is to increase awareness and promote early detection.

These educational campaigns are tailored to address specific myths and misconceptions within the black community.

Partnering with local churches to disseminate information about breast cancer prevention, risk factors, and the importance of early detection is essential, as religion is an integral part of black culture.

In Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland, data highlights that black women are five times more likely to miss appointments with NHS breast cancer services.

It was my pleasure to be invited to speak to over 30 women at the New Testament Church of God in Leicester about breast cancer on Monday, June 17th.

They were very engaged and had many questions. We discussed the presentation of breast cancer, its incidence in black women, and what can be done to change the narrative of poorer outcomes in black women.

Reducing breast cancer disparities among black women requires a multifaceted approach that includes education, community involvement, patient navigation, access to care, and policy advocacy.

By engaging the community and leveraging local resources and leaders, these strategies can help promote early detection, improve outcomes, and ultimately save lives.

My motto remains: ‘Teach one, reach all’!”

Source: Olubukola Ayodele/LinkedIn