Breast cancer is not a white woman’s disease: UHBW healthcare support worker campaigns for more women to be checking their breasts

“We’re taught not to speak about our bodies. Black women cannot be ill.”

July was Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness Month, a campaign dedicated to raising awareness about the cancer health inequalities faced by Black, Asian, and other minoritised ethnic communities.

Rhakima Kahn was 34 when she found a lump, close to her sternum. As a senior healthcare support worker for University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW), she knew to go to her GP straight away.

After pushing for an appointment at the Bristol Breast Care Centre, ran by North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT), Rhakima – known as Kimi – was diagnosed with breast cancer.

The 38-year-old, who lives in Emersons Green, said: “Working in a hospital I have learnt to read the room so I knew the consultant thought it was cancer when she ordered the biopsy. Then when I was asked to come in for my results, I was certain they would tell me I had cancer, so I had already prepared for it.

“When they told me, you have breast cancer, I actually started laughing.”

She was diagnosed with breast cancer on Valentine’s Day, 2022.

Kimi was told she would need a lumpectomy but insisted on a mastectomy where the whole breast is removed. Further tests were carried out and more tumours were found in her breast tissue, in locations which would not have shown up on a breast check.

Following her operation Kimi, who is a mother-of-two, had six rounds of chemotherapy and five rounds of radiotherapy to eradicate the cancer.

Three years later Kimi is trying to get more women from Black, Asian, Multiple Heritage, and other ethnically minoritised, global majority backgrounds to be more aware of the symptoms of breast cancer and the importance of getting the right help if you do notice any changes in your body.

Kimi said: “Being a Black woman, we don’t have the same access to education about our bodies. We’re brought up not to speak about it, not just ill health but anything to do with our bodies.

“Most Black girls learn about periods and sex outside the home, at school or from friends, and then they don’t speak to their families about it.

“It puts us at a huge disadvantage, because not only are we less likely to check our breasts when we get older or recognise changes in our bodies we need to get checked out, we also are more likely to wait longer to speak to a doctor about our symptoms.”

Clinical lead for Breast Services at NBT, Michelle Mullan, said: "It is important for all women to regularly check their breasts for changes and seek medical advice if there is something that does not seem quite right.

"Thanks to Kimi for highlighting this important issue for black women and those from ethnically minoritised global majority backgrounds because we know that there can be some cultural reluctance to discuss health matters that can lead to women not coming forward.

"We hope her campaigning will encourage all women to come forward if they have any new breast symptoms, and we would also encourage women to attend their routine with their breast screening mammograms when invited by the NHS Breast Screening Programme from the age of 50 to 70."

Kimi has taken to social media to share her story, in the hope of educating more people about the misinformation about cancer within the Black community. She has also reached out to churches and community groups in Bristol, for the chance to speak to Black women in person about checking their breasts and going to the GP when they notice changes in their body.

“As a Black woman, we are not allowed to be ill. We are brought up not to show weakness and it is something we pass down to our daughters.

“I don’t want my daughter (Gianna, aged six) to grow up and feel she, as a Black woman, cannot speak about her health.

“The lack of education about cancer in the Black community, the belief that it mostly affects white people, or that you should pray to get better. It all adds up to Black and Asian people having worse outcomes from cancer.

“One of things Black women always tell me is that they don’t go to the GP because they are often dismissed, and they feel that they are not heard based on the colour of their skin. I need people to understand what stops Black women from going to get tested.”

Despite the statistics (see Further Information below) supporting Kimi’s campaign, not everyone has been ready to hear her message.

“I have had backlash,” she said. “Backlash from my own community who don’t think I should be talking about having cancer or sharing my body on social media and showing I’ve had a mastectomy.

“But we need more people to see bodies like mine. To my children having a mum with one breast is completely normal, they’re used to seeing it.”

Kimi has asked several high street retailers to include women with a single or bilateral mastectomy in their advertising campaigns but has been refused several times.

“In October everyone is happy to take the Pink for Breast Cancer money, but no one wants to support us the rest of the year.

“Women are not symmetrical, and we need to get people used to seeing that women who have had mastectomies are here as well.”

Professor Steve Hams, Group Chief Nurse for the Bristol NHS Group, said: “Rhakima’s determination to reach more people with this important message about cancer is inspiring.

“Bristol NHS Group has made a commitment to tackling health inequalities and raising awareness among the Black, Asian, Multiple Heritage and other ethnically minoritised, global majority communities is a key part of that.

“As a group we have a clear responsibility to improve health equity, and we are committed to Group-wide improvement for everybody in our care.”  

Peaches Golding, Lord Lieutenant of Bristol said: “As someone with personal experience of breast cancer I understand how important early intervention is. The NHS looked after me incredibly well, and we need more women to know when to go to the doctor about any changes.

“Education is so important, and Kimi’s inspirational effort to raise awareness is going to be beneficial for many. Work is being done to improve health outcomes for Black and Asian women and talking about our bodies and empowering people to seek help is an important step.”