The No. 1 Rising Cancer in Women: Dr. Kemi Doll on Uterine Cancer, Fibroids, HRT & What Women Need to Know

What happens when the womb is treated as separate from the rest of women’s health? In this episode of hol+, Dr. Taz sits down with Dr. Kemi Doll, double board-certified gynecologic oncologist, equity scientist, researcher, coach, and author of A Terrible Strength: The Hidden Crisis of the Black Womb and Your Survival Guide to Healing , for a powerful conversation about womb health, uterine cancer, fibroids, HRT, health equity, and why so many women are still being taught to normalize symptoms that deserve care. Together, they explore why womb health is not only about pregnancy, fertility, or menopause, but a lifelong part of women’s physical, emotional, hormonal, and whole-body health. Dr. Doll shares how her grandmother’s death in childbirth, her mother’s near-death experience, and her own work as a gynecologic cancer surgeon shaped her mission to bring the uterus back into the center of women’s health. Dr. Taz and Dr. Doll also discuss why uterine cancer is rising, why Black women are twice as likely to die after a uterine cancer diagnosis, and how gaps in research, screening, and diagnostic tools may leave women of color especially vulnerable. They unpack the role of ultrasound, endometrial thickness, post-menopausal bleeding, and why women need clearer conversations with their providers when something feels off. This conversation also takes a closer look at the explosion of hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, and the questions every woman with a uterus should be asking. Dr. Doll explains why estrogen without proper progesterone protection can increase uterine cancer risk, why some women may not understand the role progesterone plays, and why monitoring the uterus matters when using hormones. If you’re listening to this and thinking, “I know something is off in my body, but I don’t know where to start,” join the Circle here: 👉 https://holplus.co/circle Womb health is not just about periods, pregnancy, fibroids, or menopause. It is shaped by hormones, stress, inflammation, medical history, race, research gaps, diagnostic bias, body literacy, emotional suppression, and the way women are taught to silence or normalize pain. In this episode, Dr. Taz and Dr. Doll look at the womb as a vital part of women’s health that deserves attention across every stage of life. Learn more about support related to this conversation: Cancer Support: https://holplus.co/services/cancer-support/ Hormone Imbalance: https://holplus.co/conditions/hormone-imbalance/ Dr. Doll shares why fibroids often begin earlier and become more severe for Black women, why many women are not believed until symptoms become unbearable, and how chronic stress, anger suppression, vitamin D deficiency, and delayed care can all become part of a larger womb health crisis. She also explains why some women may still have options beyond surgery, while others need honest, compassionate conversations about myomectomy, hysterectomy, fertility preservation, and quality of life. Dr. Taz and Dr. Doll also explore the connection between traditional medicine, Chinese medicine, science, and what Dr. Doll calls “womb suffering.” They discuss why women need better language for their symptoms, why bringing an advocate to medical appointments can help, and why prioritizing your womb in your 30s, 40s, 50s, and beyond may change the trajectory of your health. If you are navigating fibroids, heavy bleeding, endometriosis, pelvic pain, post-menopausal bleeding, HRT, menopause, hysterectomy decisions, fertility concerns, or the feeling that your symptoms have been dismissed, this episode offers validation, education, and a deeper way to understand what your body may be trying to tell you. About The Guest: Dr. Kemi Doll is a double board-certified gynecologic oncologist, equity scientist, researcher, coach, speaker, and author dedicated to advancing healing, liberation, and leadership for Black women in medicine and beyond. Her groundbreaking research on racial disparities in endometrial cance