Breast cancer, food and health equity: a Q&A with Victoria Ekanoye

1. Could you tell our audience a little about you and your breast cancer journey?

I’m an actress, singer, filmmaker, mum and health equity advocate. I’m also a breast cancer survivor living with sickle cell disease, so navigating health challenges is something I’ve known throughout my life.

I discovered my first breast lump in 2021, in the middle of the pandemic, when my son Théo was just six months old. I was still finding my feet as a new mother, and suddenly I was facing the possibility of cancer during an already frightening and uncertain time.

I was offered a lumpectomy, but ultimately chose to undergo a double mastectomy. It was a much more invasive procedure, and I knew it would mean a longer recovery and permanently change the way I saw myself in the mirror every day. But I wanted to minimise my risk of recurrence as much as possible. I had a baby boy to live for, and I wanted to give myself the best possible chance of being there to watch him grow up.

Having sickle cell disease added another layer of complexity to my surgery and recovery. It was an extraordinarily difficult chapter, physically and emotionally, but it also changed the direction of my life.

Cancer was never something I wished for, but I’m grateful for, and proud of, the woman I’ve become after pushing through so much adversity. Today, I’m passionate about helping others feel informed, represented and empowered to advocate for their health.

2. When you were diagnosed, did you come across conflicting advice about what you should or shouldn’t eat? What was it like trying to make sense of it?

Interestingly, it wasn’t so much conflicting advice as a surprising lack of nutritional guidance altogether. We spend so much time discussing how to treat illness, yet comparatively little time exploring the role nutrition and lifestyle can play in supporting our health.

I found myself doing much of my own research. I wanted to understand what I was eating, how different foods affected me and what changes I could make to support my wellbeing.

I also became interested in food intolerances and how regularly consuming foods that don’t agree with us can affect our digestive health and quality of life. I think patients experiencing persistent food-related symptoms should have better access to appropriate investigation and qualified nutritional guidance.

The difficulty is that there’s an overwhelming amount of information available, and not all of it is scientifically sound. I’ve always believed that food can be a powerful part of looking after ourselves. It isn’t a replacement for medical treatment, but good nutrition can support health, recovery and the management of certain conditions.

I’d love to see practical, evidence-based nutritional support become a more integrated part of healthcare.

3. Did the advice you found feel relevant to you and your food culture? What would you have liked to see more of?

Not always. Nutritional advice can sometimes feel as though it’s written for one particular lifestyle, without considering people’s cultural backgrounds, traditions or circumstances. Food is so much more than fuel. It’s family, heritage, comfort, celebration and connection. We shouldn’t have to abandon the foods we grew up with in order to eat well.

I’d love to see more culturally relevant guidance that embraces different ingredients, traditional recipes and cooking methods, while helping people make informed nutritional choices.

That also means considering affordability and accessibility. It’s all very well telling people to buy fresh, organic produce, but not everyone has the resources or access to do that consistently. Healthier choices need to feel achievable, not exclusive. Good health advice should meet people where they are, not expect everyone to fit the same template.

4. You were recovering from a double mastectomy with a baby only a few months old. What did food and mealtimes look like at that time?

It was an incredibly demanding period. I’d discovered my first lump when Théo was six months old, and by the time I underwent surgery, I was trying to navigate cancer, sickle cell disease, motherhood and recovery, all against the backdrop of the pandemic. There was very little room to stop and process what was happening.

I absolutely love cooking, but at that stage, food was about nourishment, practicality and getting through the day. When you’re recovering from major surgery while caring for a baby, even the simplest tasks can feel enormous.

I learned that looking after yourself sometimes means accepting help, simplifying things and letting go of the expectation that you have to do everything. There’s so much pressure on mothers to keep going, regardless of what they’re experiencing. But you can’t continually pour from an empty cup. Nourishing yourself matters too.

5. How has your relationship with food, and with looking after yourself, changed since you finished treatment?

I’ve made significant changes, not just to my diet but to how I approach everyday life. I’m much more conscious of what I eat, the products I use and the environment I create for my family.

I’ve become far more interested in understanding ingredients rather than simply trusting the claims on packaging. I also practise intermittent fasting as part of my personal routine, alongside prioritising hydration, movement, sleep and emotional wellbeing. It’s an approach I’ve chosen for myself, rather than something I would suggest is appropriate for everyone.

Initially, making changes can feel overwhelming. There are so many things we’re told to do, avoid, buy or eliminate. But I’ve learned that you don’t have to change everything overnight. Start with one small improvement this week, another next month, and gradually those choices become habits.

I’m also very aware that some health risks are outside our control. I carry an inherited genetic predisposition to cancer, and even the healthiest lifestyle cannot guarantee prevention. But I believe in doing what we reasonably can to support our physical and mental health.

My philosophy is simple: always be match ready! We can’t predict every challenge life will throw at us, but we can do our best to support the body and mind that will carry us through it.

6. You’ve been eating our meals for a while now. What’s your favourite, and how do they fit into your week?

The Chickpea Masala is definitely one of my favourites!

I love cooking, hosting and taking care of people, especially my family and friends, but between acting, singing, travelling and being a mum, life can get pretty hectic. There are days when I simply don’t have the time or energy to plan, shop and prepare everything from scratch.

That’s where Field Doctor has been such a help. Having dietitian-designed meals ready in the freezer takes some of the pressure off, particularly when I’m juggling work and family commitments.

It’s not about replacing home cooking. It’s about having convenient options that help me maintain the habits I’ve worked hard to build. And sometimes, taking care of yourself means making life a little easier!

7. You’ve been to Parliament and made a documentary about how Black women experience breast cancer. What made you want to speak up, and what do you think most needs to change?

My own experience made me realise just how important it is for patients to feel heard, informed and empowered to advocate for themselves.

Through my award-winning documentary, Shades of Survival, which I executive produced and presented, we’ve explored the inequalities affecting Black women throughout their breast cancer journeys.

The documentary has reached audiences internationally and helped open important conversations, including co-hosting a groundbreaking screening at Parliament.

But for me, the greatest achievement isn’t an award or a screening. It’s knowing that someone’s experience might be different because of a conversation we’ve helped start.

We need better representation in research, more culturally informed healthcare, improved awareness, timely diagnosis and more equitable access to treatment and support.

We also need to recognise that patients are not simply recipients of healthcare. Their lived experiences are valuable sources of knowledge. Health equity isn’t about giving everyone identical care. It’s about ensuring everyone has a fair opportunity to achieve the best possible outcome.

8. If there’s one thing you wish more people understood about Black women and breast cancer, what would it be?

That our voices matter, and that being heard can make an enormous difference.

Black women are not a monolithic group. Our backgrounds, experiences and individual risks vary, and healthcare needs to reflect that. But there are persistent inequalities in cancer experiences and outcomes that cannot be ignored.

We need to move beyond awareness alone and ask whether women are being listened to, diagnosed promptly, offered appropriate treatment and supported throughout recovery. Representation isn’t simply about seeing someone who looks like you in a campaign. It’s about being included in research, reflected in medical understanding and taken seriously when you raise concerns.

A woman’s background should never determine the quality of care she receives or her chances of surviving cancer. And that conversation must continue long after October ends.

9. And if readers would like to help, how can they support Black Women Rising?

Black Women Rising does incredibly important work creating spaces where Black women affected by breast cancer feel seen, supported and understood.

I know Leanne personally, and she is truly changing and saving lives through the work she’s doing. The organisation was also involved in Shades of Survival, so this is a cause particularly close to my heart.

People can support Black Women Rising by following their work, sharing their resources, donating where possible and helping amplify the experiences of women whose voices have historically been underrepresented.

I’m also pleased that Field Doctor is supporting breast cancer charities this October, including Black Women Rising, through its donation initiative.

But I think it’s important to remember that supporting these organisations shouldn’t be limited to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We need sustained investment, meaningful collaboration and a genuine commitment to improving outcomes. Awareness opens the conversation. Sustained action is what creates change.
⁠Victoria shares her personal experience and the choices she has made for herself. This isn’t medical advice, so please speak to your own healthcare team before making changes to your diet or lifestyle.