Olubukola Ayodele, Breast Cancer Lead at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“What a weekend!
Saturday started bright and early as I coordinated the ‘Let’s Talk About Black Women and Breast Cancer’ community event at the African Heritage Alliance in Leicester. It was an intimate, heartfelt space where women came together to learn about clinical research and trials in plain, relatable language. We tackled common myths, shared facts, and helped demystify what research participation really means.
I was delighted to be joined by Dr Natalie Darko, Director of Inequality Research at the NIHR Leicester BRC, who spoke about her SISTAH Study and the importance of representation in research.
From there, I headed to the ‘Karibani – Learn a new African Language today’ Wellness Outreach at the Loughborough Wellness Centre, where I ran a breast cancer awareness stall with my colleague Sue Orgill, a Macmillan Cancer Support Breast Care Nurse. Together, we educated men and women about breast health and distributed resources from Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel!.
During the panel discussion, I had the opportunity to highlight that screening is for well people and it’s about early detection and staying ahead, not fear. I encouraged everyone to know their normal and be experts in self-breast examination, one of the simplest yet most powerful ways to take charge of one’s health. It was eye-opening for many to learn that men can also get breast cancer.
We had discussions with experts from the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, such as Flo Cox and Dr Oladejo Olaleye, about maternal health, head and neck cancers. The community had the opportunity to have their blood pressure checked.
Sunday took me online, speaking with the Oncology Interest Group, Nigeria (OIG), an inspiring community of medical students and young doctors. We discussed pathways into medical oncology, and I shared lessons from my own journey and reminded them that to improve cancer outcomes, we must all become advocates by going out into our communities to raise awareness, educate, and demystify cancer. Cancer care starts in the community, not in the hospital.
I ended the day by joining the DChanger Charity Support Group, where we talked about advances in breast cancer management and the ongoing improvements in outcomes, and what’s on the horizon. The Q&A session was raw, honest, and deeply moving, a reminder of the real lives behind every statistic.
It was a busy but thoroughly rewarding weekend, one that reinforced my belief that awareness, education, and empathy are powerful tools for change.
Don’t forget to join us on the 1st of November at the African Caribbean Centre, Leicester, from 10 am for the special public screening of the play Unseen Unheard. We would be having a powerful discussion session after the play.
More posts featuring Olubukola Ayodele.
