In this deeply personal and eye-opening episode, I share the story of my late mother, whose delayed diagnosis and treatment reveal the devastating consequences of being invisible in a healthcare system that too often fails Black women.
Drawing inspiration from Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez, we confront the dangerous myth that Black women feel less pain—a lie rooted in historical racism and perpetuated in modern medicine. I share my own lived experience of becoming a mother and navigating a system where being seen, heard, and believed isn’t always a given.
This episode is both a tribute and a call to action. We unpack the statistics, expose the biases, and arm you with tools to advocate for yourself and those you love. Because your pain is real. Your health matters. And your voice must be heard.
Episode Notes Uterine Cancer and Ethnicity (UK)
Recent UK data shows that Black women in England are more than twice as likely to die from womb (uterine) cancer as white women. According to the Office for National Statistics and featured in a 2024 UK cancer care summary, between 2017 and 2019, mortality rates for Black women were over two times higher than their white counterparts—a gap directly tied to late diagnosis and barriers in healthcare access. For the latest uterine cancer facts, visit the Cancer Research UK mortality statistics page Black women at greater risk of dying from uterine cancer | News | University ofLeicester
Uterine cancer statistics | Cancer Research UK
Uterine cancer mortality and Black women: time to act - The Lancet Oncology
Black women have a higher risk of advanced stage uterine cancer - GatewayC
A recent commentary with data from the ONS highlights that 78% of Black women in the UK do not believe their health is as equally protected by the NHS as white women’s. This significant lack of trust is widely cited as a barrier to timely health-seeking behavior and equitable care. Campaigns such as Five X More continue to raise awareness and advocate for better outcomes.
The MBRRACE-UK Report 2023 confirms that Black women are 3.7 times more likely to die during or shortly after childbirth compared to white women. These persistent disparities are a significant focus of recent public health campaigns and UK government action [MBRRACE-UK Report, 2023].
Studies routinely show up to 80% of Black women develop uterine fibroids by age 50, often with more severe symptoms and earlier onset compared to women of other ethnicities. Fibroid prevalence and impact is a leading reproductive health concern for Black British women, regularly documented in resources from Cancer Research UK and partner organizations
Black Women’s Confidence in the NHSMaternal Mortality in the UKUterine Fibroids in Black Women
Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men – Caroline Criado Perez
Medical Apartheid – Harriet A. Washington
The Pain Gap: How Sexism and Racism in Healthcare Kill Women – Anushay Hossain
Birthrights Report: Systemic Racism, Not Broken Bodies (2022) – birthrights.org.uk
PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service)
Offers support and advice if you’re not being heard by NHS providers.
Find your local PALS
Five X More – Black maternal health awareness and advocacy
https://fivexmore.com
Tommy’s Charity – Support and research for pregnancy loss and maternal health disparities
https://www.tommys.org
Birthrights – Legal support and advocacy for respectful maternity care
https://www.birthrights.org.uk
📚 Relevant Resources & NHS Data🔍 Key Statistics & Reports📘 Recommended Reading🛠️ Health Advocacy Tools.