Recognising Black celebrity breast cancer survivors
As Black History Month in the UK and breast cancer awareness month is here, let's take a look at some survivors of breast cancer
Breast cancer cells begin inside the milk ducts and/or the milk-producing lobules of the breast, according to the WHO. They can spread to nearby lymph nodes or other organs and can be fatal, experts say.
In 2020, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed with breast cancer and 685,000 deaths globally. Breast cancer occurs in every country of the world in women at any age after puberty, but with increasing rates in later life.
To pay tribute to Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Black History Month, as celebrated in October in the UK, it is crucial to recognise and celebrate seven black celebrity breast cancer survivors.
1. Hoda Kotb
As a well-known American broadcaster and journalist, Hoda Kotb was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 at 43 years old. Through having a successful mastectomy and reconstructive surgery, Kotb survived breast cancer.
She has since used her platform on the NBC News morning show Today to bring awareness to breast cancer and uplift other survivors. She also encouraged a “Paint the Town Pink.” breast cancer awareness campaign in 2021.
2. Wanda Skyes
Popular stand-up comedian, actress and writer Wanda Sykes revealed that she had stage 0 breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in 2011 during the Ellen Degeneres Show.
She discovered she had breast cancer while undergoing breast cancer reduction surgery. She had a double vasectomy to revert the process, which was successful.
Throughout her comedian career, she has encouraged women to perform self-tests and go for regular screenings.
3. Matthew Knowles
Matthew Knowles, known as the manager of Destiny’s Child and the father of well-renowned musicians Beyonce and her sister Solange, revealed his breast cancer awareness in 2019 in a Good Morning America exclusive interview.
He was diagnosed with breast cancer after continuously noticing blood specs on his t-shirts. In the interview, he says, “Talk about it. Speak up. Speak out. Sooner, faster, quicker about it. That’s what strength is. Weakness is when you want to keep it secret.”
He does this to break the stigma attached to male breast cancer and to cast out the myth that men cannot have breast cancer. Since his diagnosis, he has successfully removed one of his breasts and is yet to remove the other one.
4. Zoleka Mandela
Granddaughter of Nelson Mandela, an African visionary, Zoleka Mandela, was diagnosed with breast cancer twice in her lifetime and survived it twice.
Despite having a tumultuous life fighting her breast cancer, being a drug addict and losing two children, Zoleka made it a campaign point to bring awareness to breast cancer. She actively shared her experience on Instagram and further personal details of her life experience in her biography, When Hope Whispers, including battling cancer during her chemotherapy sessions.
Leaving a legacy behind, she stressed the importance of early detection and regular screenings before her recent death.
5. Robin Roberts
Popular American TV broadcaster and anchor for ABC’s Good Morning America had an early detection of breast cancer in 2007. She performed a self-examination and found a lump.
She shared her successful journey and experience, including informative segments, with her Good Morning America audience.
6. Richard Roundtree
Richard Roundtree is an actor and was dubbed the first black action hero for his role as a private detective, John Shaft, in the 1971 film Shaft.
He is one of the few men diagnosed with breast cancer. Even though he remained silent for about five years, he decided to come out with his survivor status to break the stigma of male breast cancer.
In a recent interview with Essence, he said, “Ironically, my only trepidation was sharing my condition with anyone in Hollywood because the industry doesn’t like sick people. I was never concerned about telling any of my male friends, but the industry, yes, so I never let on, and I never told anyone until I was cancer-free and a five-year survivor.”
Whenever he gets the opportunity to speak to an audience, he spreads awareness about male breast cancer and breast cancer in general in women and men, and he recognizes the importance of early detection and prevention.
7. Bershan Shaw
Bershan Shaw is an American business coach, TV personality mostly from ‘Real Housewives’, motivational speaker and two-time breast cancer survivor.
She was first diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in 2007 and again in 2009 with stage four breast cancer in 2009 and told she had just three months to live. She survived after a trip to about five African countries, Namibia, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Senegal, Ghana, and Ethiopia, and several successful rounds of chemotherapy.
She remains a crucial advocate for breast cancer awareness, sharing her experience in a joint book with about forty other women, “Unstoppable Warrior Woman.” Earlier this year, she spread awareness of breast cancer by recounting her experience at a Women and Wellness luncheon at the Jefferson Hotel in Washington, D.C
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