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.

• Uterine Cancer and Ethnicity (UK)

  • Black women in England are twice as likely to die from womb cancer as white women.
    Source: Cancer Research UK & Office for National Statistics

• Black Women’s Confidence in the NHS

  • 78% of Black women in the UK don’t believe their health is as equally protected by the NHS as white women’s.
    Source: Five X More Campaign

• Maternal Mortality in the UK

  • Black women are 3.7 times more likely to die during or shortly after childbirth compared to white women.
    Source: MBRRACE-UK Report, 2023

• Uterine Fibroids in Black Women

  • Up to 80% of Black women develop fibroids by age 50, often with more severe symptoms and fewer treatment options.
    Source: NHS UK - Fibroids

• 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.