Myeloma is the third most common blood cancer in the UK, yet awareness remains low in Black African and Black Caribbean communities. This is despite a higher risk of developing it, often at an earlier age, and experiencing longer delays in diagnosis. To tackle this, the Race Equality Foundation and Myeloma UK have partnered to co-produce culturally sensitive resources shaped directly by lived experience. Through focus groups in London, Manchester, and Birmingham, community voices are guiding the development of awareness materials that reflect real challenges and needs.
Our co-production group plays a key role in translating these voices into action, contributing ideas and feedback to ensure that the final resources are not only impactful, but truly tailored to the needs of Black communities. In this way, the project seeks not just to improve understanding, but also to influence policy and healthcare practices in a way that reflects the experiences of those most affected.
In a Q&A with Myeloma UK, our co-production members, Dunsi Bolarinwa, Senior Pharmacist at University College London, shares why lived experience is key, the barriers communities face, and the hope she sees in grassroots action and a new generation’s willingness to engage.
Read the full interview here
What next?
Materials will be launched this September during Blood Cancer Awareness Month as part of our new and ongoing awareness campaign.
