Tell us a little about yourself and your journey?
At just 30 years old, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer, just 6-months after my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time. Within days of my diagnosis, my treatment began. 8 rounds of gruelling chemotherapy followed by a double mastectomy & reconstruction.
During my diagnosis and subsequent treatment, I began to see the gaps in support services for Black cancer patients. The lack of inclusivity meant that the majority of mainstream support could not offer me what I needed. There was no adequate advice for my hair care during treatment, no wigs or prosthetics tailored for women of colour, and vitally the mental health support offered was tailored to middle-aged white women.
I began blogging about my experiences, and I discovered that I was not alone.
I could not sit back and watch! So I set up the Black Women Rising, a support group providing help for Black cancer patients, survivors and thrivers. From there, I set up my own charity - The Leanne Pero Foundation.
How has your relationship with lingerie changed since being diagnosed?
Going through the double mastectomy & reconstruction left me looking at my body in a different way which ultimately changed my relationship with lingerie. It was no longer a simple task as it came with a lot of emotion and trauma.
How could customer service within the lingerie industry do more for the community?
For me, it would be making some of the popular styles and designs accessible for mastectomy patients. There is huge power in feeling like you look like yourself despite the surgery.
What is the importance of community? When in your journey did you intentionally seek to find your community? How did you build your community?
Community is everything when going through a cancer diagnosis & treatment. A cancer diagnosis can be incredibly lonely. Friends who you once knew would drop everything when you needed them…disappear. In our community, we don’t talk about having cancer for fear of judgement so our circle of support becomes very small. And for many they have no support at all.
Being able to meet and talk to likeminded people and having those who know what you are going through is vital.
I didn’t find my community until after my treatment had finished, and I had to set up a charity – The Leanne Pero Foundation – to make that happen, not the simplest solution. However my hope is that our projects will mean that no one has to go through cancer alone.
If possible to share, what are the most common questions or topics of interest that emerged in your podcast, Black Women Rising- The Untold Cancer Stories Podcast
We have covered many important issues within both series of our podcast including; sex and cancer, race and cancer, mental health awareness, employment advice, living with Stage4 cancer. What became very clear was that more needs to be done to support cancer patients during and beyond their treatment.
Breast Cancer Awareness beyond October. What could we (the industry) do more?
Cancer Awareness should not just be limited to one month. We need to find a way to make it the norm that we talk about cancer, encourage others to raise awareness, increase the percentage of Black women who check their breasts & help reduce the stark statistics our community face.
Do you have any plans/ exciting things to look forward to in 2021/2022?
We have just launched our latest campaign; If In Doubt Check It Out - to help raise awareness within the Black community for self-checking and knowing our own bodies.
We are also so proud to have launched a billboard campaign using the incredible images from our latest Black Women Rising Exhibition.
2022 will see the next series of our podcast as well as the next edition of our Black Women Rising Magazine…amongst other projects which will help us reach our message even further.
To connect with Leanne Pero:
Follow her on Instagram and Black Women Rising also feel free to donate to the amazing Leanne Pero Foundation to help support patients during and after care amongst people of colour.
Did you know?:
Many women women of colour find the process of shopping for underwear, in particular bras post-surgery absolutely frustrating due to pricing, lack of options, the popular colours amongst a 'weird beige' hue and overall a little dated. We spoke with a few friends/family of the brand who shared their wants in lingerie range from colour, softness, matching options, undetectable styles (that doesn't scream cancer patient) to continue doing what lingerie does - evoking femininity, comfort with some elements of sexiness.
