Who is Dawn Barker? Dawn is a new-age renaissance woman, a difference maker, and a catalyst for change. Her passion for improving the well-being of her community has always been at the core of her life’s mission, and she has dedicated herself to making a tangible difference for those around her.
Born proudly in Barbados, Dawn began her professional journey in the health insurance industry. However, as she witnessed the healthcare struggles of her loved ones, particularly her own family, Dawn felt a deep calling to shift her focus from the corporate world to a more hands-on approach. Her decision to pursue a Healthcare Aid Certification was driven by a desire to care for those who couldn’t care for themselves, a desire born from personal experience.
Dawn’s mother endured a lengthy 12-year battle with multiple myeloma, a struggle that deeply impacted Dawn and solidified her resolve to make a difference in healthcare. Sadly, after losing her mother at the age of 62, she faced yet another devastating loss just four years later when her father passed away after a brief battle with esophageal cancer.
The loss of loved ones is an experience that leaves a lasting void, one that is deeply felt but hard to describe. As author Jamie Anderson said it like this: “Grief, I've learned, is really just love. It's all the love you want to give but cannot. All of that unspent love gathers in the corners of your eyes, the lump in your throat, and in the hollow part of your chest. Grief is just love with no place to go.” Dawn’s personal journey through grief gave her a deeper understanding of the need for compassion, support, and most importantly, advocacy—particularly when navigating the often complex and impersonal healthcare system.
In both her parents’ experiences, they often felt dismissed or overlooked by healthcare professionals. This sense of being unseen ignited a fire in Dawn to stand up for others and advocate for more equitable care. However, it wasn’t until her own health was on the line that Dawn realized the power of self-advocacy.
In 2017, Dawn received her own life-changing diagnosis: triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive form of breast cancer. When diagnosed with this type of breast cancer, the message of hope is often lost amidst the urgency of treating an aggressive form of cancer. Being told things like, “survival rate is low, recurrence is high”, “it’s harder to treat", "chemotherapy regimen is very aggressive”, “the side effects are quite harsh”, “typically, the cancer may return in the first 5 years following treatment” can leave a person feeling helpless. Thankfully, 7 years later Dawn is here to share her story as a source of inspiration.
Ironically, she had requested breast cancer screening twice before her diagnosis, only to be denied both times. She was told, “Not until you’re 50,” a reflection of the standard guidelines that do not always account for the realities faced by younger women or racialized communities. Dawn’s experience highlights a critical gap in the healthcare system: there is a lack of education and awareness around how breast cancer often presents earlier and more aggressively in racialized women, particularly Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
Dawn’s advocacy stems from her desire to ensure that others do not face the same barriers. She wants women to know that there are potential benefits in conducting a breast cancer risk assessment earlier than the guidelines suggest, especially for BIPOC women. Above all, she emphasizes that informed decision-making is a right that everyone should exercise.
Through raising awareness, relentless advocacy, and initiating positive dialogues aimed at systemic change, Dawn’s ultimate goal is to ensure better representation in healthcare nationwide. She envisions leading organizations, researchers, and government institutions toward the collection of race-based health data to close existing gaps. Dawn is calling for a provincial cancer action plan which includes training and equipping those that serve patients to better understand the tailored care and education required to adequately support our diverse nation. By doing so, she hopes to create a healthcare system where earlier detection, personalized treatment, and equitable care become the norm—ensuring that no one is overlooked or screened too late.
Dawn’s advocacy led to the creation of NUY50, a movement born out of adversity, grief, and a desire to spark meaningful change. NUY50—standing for "Not Until You’re 50"—reflects Dawn’s experience of being denied breast cancer screening between the ages of 40 and 42, only to be diagnosed two years later with TNBC. NUY50’s mission is to raise awareness about the importance of self-advocacy and push for more research into breast cancer, particularly in women under 50 and those from BIPOC communities.
Dawn Barker’s story is one of resilience, courage, and a commitment to improving the lives of others. Her message is clear: “Don’t wait—ADVOCATE!”©
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