Cancer hits hard. But it hits some communities harder. Not because of biology—but because of broken systems, baked-in bias, and willful neglect.

In this episode, The Cancer Mavericks zooms in on cancer disparities—how race, income, geography, and history shape who gets diagnosed early, who gets treated properly, and who gets left behind. This isn’t a new problem. It’s a crisis that's been ignored for decades.

We meet Mary Lovato, a Native American woman from the Santo Domingo Pueblo in New Mexico who was diagnosed with leukemia and forced to travel 800 miles for care. Her experience sparked a movement for Native-led support systems and culturally competent survivorship programs—despite resistance, stigma, and underfunded Indian Health Services.

We also hear from Maimah Karmo, the unstoppable force behind the Tigerlily Foundation, who survived breast cancer in her 20s and now fights for Black women to be seen, heard, and included in every part of the cancer conversation—from clinical trials to policy panels.

Dr. Carmen Guerra breaks down why only 4% of clinical trial participants are Black—and what’s being done (and still not being done) to fix that. Spoiler: it’s not just about recruitment. It’s about trust, access, and making sure the front door is even open.

This episode is a rallying cry. It’s about who’s left out of the system, who’s pushing back, and why equity isn’t a feel-good word—it’s the difference between life and death.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Native American and Alaska Native cancer patients often lack access to local oncology services due to underfunded IHS programs
• Mary Lovato’s advocacy led to the creation of Survivorship in Indian Country—support circles rooted in cultural tradition
• Cancer stigma still silences too many in Indigenous communities; survivors like Mary had to build trust from scratch
• Maimah Karmo founded Tigerlily Foundation to ensure Black women are included in research, policy, and survivorship care
• Only 4% of U.S. clinical trial participants are Black—due to barriers like transportation, insurance, and systemic mistrust
• The Inclusion Pledge pushes organizations to make equity real, not performative

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