Voices

Olubukola Ayodele: Breast Cancer Is Not Your Fault

Olubukola Ayodele/LinkedIn

Aug 18, 2025, 14:28

Olubukola Ayodele: Breast Cancer Is Not Your Fault

Olubukola Ayodele, Breast Cancer Lead at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, shared on LinkedIn:

“This medical leave has given me more time to reflect on my oncology practice, prompting me to write about one of the most frequently asked questions I encounter.

It usually starts with a quiet pause in my clinic.

Then the question comes:

‘What did I do wrong to get breast cancer?’

I’ve heard it from women who run marathons.

From women who grow their own vegetables and never miss a yoga class. From women who follow a health routine so diligently it could be written into a manual. From others who have a meticulous wellness routine they’ve followed for years. Yet here they are, facing a diagnosis they never imagined would be theirs.

I see the emotions rise: shock, then anger, then the heavy weight of sadness or even desperation. Because somewhere along the way, we’ve been sold the idea that illness is simply the consequence of bad choices. That if you “do everything right,” you’ll be spared.

But the truth? Breast cancer doesn’t work like that.

We know that only 30–40% of breast cancer cases are linked to lifestyle factors we can change. Things like diet, exercise, alcohol and weight. The rest are shaped by what we can’t control: age, gender, genetics, ethnicity, hormonal history, random mutations in cells that simply….. happen.

Healthy habits definitely matter especially for energy, resilience and overall health but they are not an iron shield. And a diagnosis is NEVER proof that you failed.

So, what do you do when cancer enters your life despite your best efforts?

You focus on what’s still yours to hold:

Asking the questions that give you clarity and confidence in your care.
Surrounding yourself with people who lift you up.
Caring for your mind and body in ways that feel possible in this new chapter.
Giving yourself permission to let go of blame.

And for those supporting someone with cancer, skip the ‘What might have caused this?’, with , ‘How can I be here for you?’ or “How can I walk alongside you?”

Breast cancer is a complex disease. It doesn’t discriminate by fitness level, meal plan or willpower.

But what we can do together is replace shame with compassion and replace blame with action that supports people through their journey.

Because cancer is already heavy enough. No one should carry the weight of guilt on top of it.”

More posts featuring Olubukola Ayodele.