Shades of Survival: A Powerful Call for Equity in Breast Cancer Care

Last week, Prevent Breast Cancer was honoured to attend the Manchester screening of Shades of Survival, a powerful and deeply moving documentary that exposes the shocking inequities in breast cancer care faced by Black women across the globe.

The film, directed by David Ayeni and presented by Prevent Breast Cancer Patron and breast cancer survivor Victoria Ekanoye, brings to life the stories of Black women whose experiences with breast cancer are too often unheard. It highlights a devastating truth: Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer than their white counterparts, due to systemic barriers in diagnosis, treatment, and care.

Shades of Survival on the Global Stage

The film is already making an impact on a global scale. After an influential showcase at Nigeria’s National Cancer Week, the film has gone on to spark vital conversations in the UK, with private screenings in Manchester hosted by Prevent Breast Cancer and a planned screening at Parliament sponsored by MP Dawn Butler. Its UK premiere will take place at the Cambridge Film Festival, before heading to the African International Film Festival in Lagos, where the filmmakers will continue amplifying this urgent call for equity in breast cancer care.

The reality behind the numbers

In Africa, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer is just 40%, compared to around 90% in high-income countries like the UK. Even in the US, Black women are 38% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. Here in the UK, evidence suggests that many Black women still do not receive the care they need.

Victoria, who is of Nigerian heritage and grew up in Manchester, shared her own experience:

In 2021, during the pandemic, I found a lump while breastfeeding my son. Like so many Black women, I didn’t see our stories reflected in the conversation, even though data proves we’re just as likely to develop breast cancer, yet far more likely to lose the fight. When David approached me with Shades of Survival, I knew this was more than a film – it was a call to action.

Our Commitment

At Prevent Breast Cancer, our mission is to create a future free from breast cancer. But that future must be equitable. Breast cancer disproportionately affects Black women, often developing earlier and in more aggressive forms. Combined with barriers to screening and diagnosis, this means survival rates are significantly lower. This is unacceptable, and it must change.

As Prevent Breast Cancer Chief Executive, Nikki Barraclough, explains:

This film clearly demonstrates that more needs to be done to address the specific challenges Black women face in diagnosis and treatment. Addressing these inequalities both globally and here within the UK has to be a priority for governments if we are truly serious about improving breast cancer survival.

Joining the call for action

Following the UK screenings, the filmmakers and campaigners presented a letter to 10 Downing Street, calling for urgent action to address the disparities that exist for Black women. Prevent Breast Cancer is proud to have signed this letter, which demands:

• Greater investment in community outreach
• Better data collection
• Increased inclusion of Black women in clinical trials
• Targeted risk prevention
• Action to eradicate discrimination and improve cultural competency in care

What’s Next?

Shades of Survival is more than a documentary; it’s a movement for change. It celebrates resilience and hope while demanding systemic reform. We are proud to stand alongside this campaign and will continue to advocate for equity in breast cancer care.

Because every woman, everywhere, deserves the chance to survive.

Shades of Survival has secured international distribution and will soon be available on major streaming platforms, making its powerful message accessible worldwide.