There are a lot of barriers within ethnically diverse communities

It’s everyone’s business to go for screening

Breast cancer does not discriminate. I’m a prime example of that - no family history, I was healthy [but] it didn’t matter. I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 36.

There are a lot of barriers within ethnically diverse communities. Even since my diagnosis, so many women have come up to me and said that I’ve inspired them to go for screening. But the fear is there.

And I think it’s the culture around the culture. Even when I came out about my story, my parents were adamant that they didn’t want me to tell my story: “Oh, you shouldn’t hang out your dirty laundry and tell everyone your business.”

It’s not just my business. It’s everyone’s business to go for screening.

There’s that fear of the diagnosis

It’s sad to see the statistics around black women not turning up for their screening appointments.

There could be a number of reasons, some of which I’ve heard personally. There’s that fear of the diagnosis: “Oh well, they’ve got a disease, it’s a terrible thing, they’re cursed.”

I detected it early - prevention is really key. If we go for screening then a lot of treatments can be put in place to stop [the illness] getting further down the line.

But unfortunately, stats are showing that women and men from ethnically diverse communities are being diagnosed way too late, when it’s really difficult to treat.

And unfortunately, the end result is not a good one.

My advice? Please go to your appointment

So the best bit of advice I can give anyone contemplating not going for their breast screening appointment is: Just go to the appointment.

It’s important that early detection [happens]. Then you can make those decisions - and all the support is there for you to make your decisions moving forward. But the earlier the better.