Sky News presenter Gillian Joseph has spoken emotionally about her sister Charmaine's diagnosis with myeloma, an incurable blood cancer that is two to three times more common in Black people than white people. Despite being the most common blood cancer in the Black population, myeloma remains little known, with many confusing it with melanoma.
Joseph is raising awareness by trekking Scotland's West Highland Way from 5 to 12 May 2026, aiming to raise at least £5,000 for Black Women Rising, a charity supporting women of colour with cancer. She has already raised over £3,000. The challenge also aims to inspire her 69-year-old sister, who decided to stop chemotherapy after finding it debilitating, to seek alternative treatments such as immunotherapy.
Myeloma UK reports that over 35,000 people live with myeloma in the UK, with more than 17 diagnosed daily. However, Black patients face longer diagnosis times—15-20 per cent longer than white patients—and report a higher impact on quality of life. The charity has partnered with the Race Equality Foundation to address these disparities.
Pippa Foster, Director of Lived Experience and Clinical Practice at Myeloma UK, highlighted systemic barriers including delayed diagnosis, misattribution of symptoms, and lack of awareness. She also noted historical underrepresentation of people of colour in clinical trials, which hampers understanding of inequalities.
