Charlene
Newland-Tyson &
Kirk Tyson
Seek out the
information and
learn as much as
you can.
A couples battle
against cancer
and shame
Charlene Newland-Tyson, Canadian-born daughter of Jamaican immigrants, and her Jamaican-born husband, Kirk Tyson, have been together for nearly thirty years. Their bond, first forged in grade ten, has been tested by time and tragedy but strengthened by love and commitment.
One of their most challenging battles came after Charlene was diagnosed with breast cancer. Having lost his mother to pancreatic cancer in his young adulthood, Kirk was terrified, but he remained Charlene’s rock as she found her own way to cope with the illness—denial fueled by the cultural stigma of shame and victim blaming prevalent within the Caribbean community.
“In Jamaica, there’s a belief that ‘whatever happens in the
house stays in the house’,” Kirk
explains. “Because you don’t want anyone to weaponize your
circumstances against you.”
Charlene agrees, but says there’s also a level of victim blaming, too, speaking to this idea that someone’s choice in lifestyle, diet, or spirituality could lead them to getting cancer.
Unfortunately, this belief was reflected at her many times throughout her journey. For that reason, Charlene refused to speak or look at anyone while going through treatment, opting to sit alone in the hospital room with her sunglasses on. She refused to stop going to work while going through treatment, going through chemo on Tuesday and showing up for work with a ‘bad wig’ on Thursday.
Charlene’s denial was so strong she even refused to tell her children or let Kirk come to chemotherapy sessions with her. “I knew if he came, then it would be real,” she explains.
Now cancer-free, Charlene attributes her reaction to her lifetime of being conditioned to ‘fight’ by putting her blinders on and forging forward.
“As I go through survivorship, I realize that I deserved to be a
bit softer with myself at that time, but I just couldn’t do it.”
Charlene says. “I had to put my big girl panties on and do what I had to do but I could’ve given myself more grace.”
Today, Charlene is a proud Ambassador and member of The Olive Branch of Hope, the only Black breast cancer survivor–led organization in Canada advocating for women of African ancestry. Through this work—and in collaboration with Breast Cancer Canada, who invited her to share her story in their 2024 national campaign—Charlene continues to work alongside breast cancer organizations to raise awareness about the disparities facing marginalized women. She believes that innovation and equity must go hand in hand, ensuring that advancements in research and care benefit every woman, regardless of race or background. Her advocacy focuses on breaking barriers, saving lives, and giving women hope—hope for earlier detection, equitable care, and lasting change that will empower future generations. Her story has been shared across major news outlets, publications, and at speaking engagements nationwide, where she continues to inspire audiences to take charge of their health and advocate for themselves and their communities.
Always her reliable pillar of support, Kirk attends every event at Charlene’s side, encouraging others to “Seek out the information and learn as much as you can. It’s great to just show up to these cancer awareness events because it’s worth it. I’ve learned so much and it’s incredibly valuable.”
