Shades of Survival

Shades of Survival, a powerful documentary film featuring Cambridge researchers, highlights global inequities in breast cancer care for Black women. It will have its world premiere at the Cambridge Film Festival later this month.

Set across three continents, Shades of Survival highlights the persistent inequities in health outcomes for Black women, while celebrating the courage of those who advocate for change. It blends powerful personal stories, expert insights and creative performances into a compelling narrative of resilience, community and the ongoing fight for healthcare equity.

The film features several Cambridge researchers and clinicians who share their research and experiences of inequalities in breast cancer care both in the UK and across the world.

Directed by David Ayeni, the film tells inspiring personal stories of resilience and hope from Black women with breast cancer in Africa, the UK and USA. Actress Victoria Ekanoye, the film’s Anchor and Executive Producer, guides viewers through the film’s emotional journey while sharing her own powerful experience as a breast cancer survivor.

David Ayeni, Director of Shades of Survival

David Ayeni, Director of Shades of Survival

“I made Shades of Survival after losing my best friend to breast cancer in her early 30s,” David explained.

“Her concerns were initially dismissed, and she finally accessed care too late. Her mother didn’t want breast cancer mentioned at her funeral, because she felt it would bring shame to her family. That is when I decided this film had to be made.”

With stunning cinematography, episodes of poetry and dance, interlaced with deeply personal stories and expert insights, Shades of Survival is not a typical documentary. It is created as a feature film about real people. It is inspiring, hard-hitting and hopeful, taking the viewer on an unforgettable journey.

David added: “Resilient, courageous women of all races around the world are fighting breast cancer. But Black women are dealing with a triple burden: the cancer itself, worse outcomes, and often the stigma of shame.

“Shades of Survival is ultimately about hope. The film exists to spark change and save lives.”

Black women are 2.3 times more likely to develop triple-negative breast cancer and are more likely to develop it younger

Black women in the US are 38% more likely to die of their Breast cancer than white women

While Africa accounts for 8.3% of Breast Cancer incidence, it accounts for 12.5% of mortality

5-year survival rate in high income countries is around 90%. In South Africa it is 40%. In Nigeria it is 32%.

Among the Cambridge academics contributing to the film is Charlotte Coles, Professor of Breast Cancer Clinical Oncology at the University of Cambridge, who also chaired the Lancet Breast Cancer Commission.

“I think the call to action for all governments around the world is for equitable access for prevention and for treatment and for ongoing care for people with breast cancer. And it shouldn't be where you live, where you are born, that determines what care you get. That's unacceptable, and that needs to change.”

^{Charlotte Coles}

Among the Cambridge academics contributing to the film is Charlotte Coles, Professor of Breast Cancer Clinical Oncology at the University of Cambridge, who also chaired the Lancet Breast Cancer Commission.

“I think the call to action for all governments around the world is for equitable access for prevention and for treatment and for ongoing care for people with breast cancer. And it shouldn't be where you live, where you are born, that determines what care you get. That's unacceptable, and that needs to change.”

^{Charlotte Coles}

Dr Sigourney Bonner is CEO of Black in Cancer, an organisation that aims to increase the number of Black cancer researchers and to improve access in any way that we can to healthcare for Black cancer patients.

“I am passionate about what I do because I have had a number of close family members pass away from cancer. If they had had the information that they needed or the support, I believe they could have lived longer and fuller lives.”

^{Sigourney Bonner}

Dr Sigourney Bonner is CEO of Black in Cancer, an organisation that aims to increase the number of Black cancer researchers and to improve access in any way that we can to healthcare for Black cancer patients.

“I am passionate about what I do because I have had a number of close family members pass away from cancer. If they had had the information that they needed or the support, I believe they could have lived longer and fuller lives.”

^{Sigourney Bonner}

Jean Abraham is Professor of Precision Breast Cancer Medicine at the University of Cambridge and Director of Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre’s Precision Breast Cancer Institute.

“For many Black people who have breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer is one of the cancers that come up quite often, and we've just finished a just under 800 patient trial in triple negative breast cancer, which has really helped us to understand both triple negative and hereditary breast cancer better. It's helped us to find new treatments that work slightly better in hereditary cancer.”

^{Jean Abraham}

Jean Abraham is Professor of Precision Breast Cancer Medicine at the University of Cambridge and Director of Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre’s Precision Breast Cancer Institute.

“For many Black people who have breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer is one of the cancers that come up quite often, and we've just finished a just under 800 patient trial in triple negative breast cancer, which has really helped us to understand both triple negative and hereditary breast cancer better. It's helped us to find new treatments that work slightly better in hereditary cancer.”

^{Jean Abraham}

Dr Georgette Oni is Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

“There's a lot of talk right now about things like artificial intelligence and big data, but that big data doesn't actually include people like me very much to be honest. So there needs to be a targeted concerted effort to make sure that that information is pulled in from as diverse and as big as a group as possible. Because otherwise we're just going to keep replicating those inequalities.”

^{Georgette Oni}

Dr Georgette Oni is Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

“There's a lot of talk right now about things like artificial intelligence and big data, but that big data doesn't actually include people like me very much to be honest. So there needs to be a targeted concerted effort to make sure that that information is pulled in from as diverse and as big as a group as possible. Because otherwise we're just going to keep replicating those inequalities.”

^{Georgette Oni}

Shades of Survival premieres at the Arts Picturehouse Cambridge on Sunday 26 October at 4.05pm as part of the Cambridge Film Festival.

This screening will include a short Q&A session at the end with David Ayeni, Victoria Ekanoye and Dr Georgette Oni.

A second screening will take place on Tuesday 28 October at 2.05pm at the Arts Picturehouse Cambridge.

^{Adapted from}^{a story from the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre}

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^{Image credits}

^{Main image - Creative Rhino}
^{David Ayeni - Creative Rhino}

^{Charlotte Coles - Patrick Harrison/Cancer Research UK}
^{Sigourney Bonner - Cancer Research UK}
^{Jean Abraham - StillVision}
^{Georgette Oni - Creative Rhino}

^{Image credits}

^{Main image - Creative Rhino}
^{David Ayeni - Creative Rhino}
^{Charlotte Coles - Patrick Harrison/Cancer Research UK}
^{Sigourney Bonner - Cancer Research UK}
^{Jean Abraham - StillVision}
^{Georgette Oni - Creative Rhino}