I was forced into this cancer world now I'm battling for all women to be treated fairly

After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Dawn Butler's anxiety was high as she prepared to be shown photos of what her surgery scars would look like after a mastectomy.

- SOPHIE HUSKISSON

The senior Black Labour MP looked on as a nurse displayed images of post-operation scars - all of women with white skin.

Dawn recalled: "I could feel the anxiety but I also felt quite emotional, because I thought, I'm not going to look like that. I've got darker coloured skin.

"After a while, after wrestling with that in my head, I just said, 'Do you have any black women's bodies that I can see, please?"

Dawn said it took "so long" until she was finally able to see women with a similar skin colour.

Now, as a patron for cancer support charity Black Women Rising, she hopes experiences like these will become a thing of the past.

There is little research into racial disparities in cancer experiences in the NHS.

However, a BWR survey of 100 women of colour found 74% who use a prosthetic breast or nipple were not offered one to match their skin tone, while 78% were not offered a suitable free wig option.

Studies show Black women are also more likely to be diagnosed with later stage and more aggressive forms of cancer, and are more likely to get breast cancer at a younger age.

Speaking of her diagnosis in 2021, Dawn, 55, told the Mirror: "I hadn't yet come to terms with it and I had to make some big decisions.