What’s On: Black Women Rising- The Untold Cancer Stories Podcast
A breast cancer survivor, community entrepreneur and activist has released a podcast series to help raise cancer awareness in the Black community.
Leanne Pero set up the Black Women Rising cancer project in 2017, which also provides support for black cancer patients and survivors as they undergo cancer treatment and experience difficulty in remission.
Leanne and her weekly guests explore healthy conversations about the myths, taboos and hardships that surround their communities as well as share inspirational stories of hope and transformation in The Untold Cancer Stories Podcast.
In the first episode already available on Spotify, Leanne is joined by two cancer-surviving guests.
Charlotte Crowl, a 30 year old Lymphoma survivor, who was left permanently disabled by her harsh chemotherapy treatment in 2007 and 29 year old Shevelle Copeland-Kelly who was diagnosed with stage 3 Triple negative breast cancer in 2019.
Both women open up about the trials and tribulations of having cancer under 35 and the frank, funny and fearless personal transformations they have had to endure to overcome their daily ongoing fight with the physical and mental effects left behind after their diseases.
Leanne was 30 years old when she was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer, six months after her mother was diagnosed with it for the 2nd time.
Leanne’s mental health took a battering and when she realised the emotional support she was promised at the start of her treatment was non-existent, she began blogging about her cancer experiences online in order to reach and connect with other members of the cancer community.
Traumatised by their ordeals, most women Leanne spoke to were seriously suffering – not just during treatment but many months, even years after.
The judgement and stress put on these women had led to severe depression, permanent hair loss and even suicidal thoughts to name a few.
Leanne is also the founder of the UK’s first all-black female annual cancer exhibition that has toured venues such as The OXO Tower and has recently had portraits commissioned by the Tate Exchange, Tate Modern.