Olubukola Ayodele, Breast Cancer Lead at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“As the year draws to a close, I’ve been sitting with the mixed emotions that 2025 brought.
Being on medical leave was one of the hardest parts. When you’re used to giving care, stepping back to receive it can feel unfamiliar. Those months taught me vulnerability, patience and a deeper kind of strength. They reminded me that healing isn’t linear and that rest is not a weakness.
But this year also gave me moments that lifted me far higher than I imagined. I had the chance to stand in rooms where voices like mine have not always been heard. I worked alongside passionate colleagues, community leaders and advocates who care deeply about fairness in cancer care. And I witnessed resilience every single day through my patients, women and men who show courage in the face of fear, who laugh even when the path is heavy and who trust me with their stories. They are a constant reminder of why I do what I do.
There were days when I felt stretched, days when I felt grateful and days when I felt both at once. Through it all, I’m thankful for everyone who checked in, held space for me and kept cheering me on, even through the complex politics and hostile environment.
I’m thankful for the opportunities to speak up for equity, for representation and for the communities that shaped me. I don’t take any of it for granted.
Next year holds new work, bigger conversations, more community partnerships and fresh ways to push for fairness in cancer care. I’m stepping into it with clearer purpose, stronger grounding and a heart that’s ready for whatever comes.
Thank you to everyone who walked this year with me. Your support has meant more than you know.
Here’s to hope, healing and impact, one step at a time.”
More posts featuring Olubukola Ayodele.
