Understanding cancer in Black communities (Tamara)
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Tamara joins us to talk about her experience of triple negative breast cancer, the BRCA2 gene mutation, and cancer stigma in Black communities. She also describes how mental health should be supported better at diagnosis and how Black Women Rising was a lifeline for her, helping her find people like her going through the same thing.
In this episode of the Breast Cancer Now podcast, we speak to Tamara about her diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer, cancer in Black communities, and the impact of discovering she carries the BRCA2 gene mutation.
Tamara opens up about the emotional weight of having to explain her cancer and her behaviour to the people around her. She also explores the stigma and mistrust that surrounds cancer in Black communities, and why culturally sensitive education is the key to improving outcomes.
The conversation explores the feeling of dismissal Black women face in healthcare settings, and the incredible support Tamara experienced when she found Black Women Rising.
Find support at Breast Cancer Now
More info about Younger Women Together courses
Find support at Black Women Rising
Find support at UK Charity for Triple Negative Breast Cancer
From Me To You - Supporting Black Cancer Communities.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube.
Key Topics:
2:50 Life before diagnosis
5:36 Mara's breast cancer diagnosis
11:08 Conversations about the BRCA gene mutation
13:52 Understanding triple negative breast cancer
20:37 Black women experiencing dismissal in healthcare
22:48 What needs to be done to help improve healthcare for Black women?
24:13 How Mara's diagnosis was received by her family and her community
25:32 Mental health support at the point of cancer diagnosis
28:58 Christian beliefs and breast cancer
32:02 Difficulty talking with other people about your cancer diagnosis
39:46 The power of the breast cancer community
41:20 Body image after surgery for breast cancer
44:01 Improving education in black Caribbean and black African communities
51:18 Mara's work with Black Women Rising