Some survivors spend a lot of time worrying that their cancer might come back. That is totally understandable. But it’s also something I make a conscious effort not to do — even after having six recurrences of cervical cancer over the last 11 years.
Don’t get me wrong: facing a cancer diagnosis is frustrating, scary and tiresome, whether it’s your first time or your seventh. It’s overwhelming to have to figure out what your options...
The HPV vaccine prevents several cancers, and it could have prevented mine. When I speak out in support of the HPV vaccine as a recurrent...
A few years ago, I met some women who expressed that they don't like to say that they're "battling" cancer because...
It's been almost four years since my cervical cancer recurrence, but my two sons, Matthew (17) and Ethan (13), never traveled with me to MD Anderson until my check-up last month. I planned my appointment over their spring break so we could fit in a few college visits in Texas. I knew it might be emotionally difficult for them to go to MD Anderson. So, I did my best to handle the visit the same way I handled my treatment. I tried to let...
As a cervical cancer survivor, I have spent considerable time and energy trying to protect my children from cancer. I didn't want them to...
When you're diagnosed with cancer, there is no right or wrong way to handle your diagnosis. Just because I acted one way doesn't mean that's...
The saying about time being a precious gift has been on my mind since I recently visited with my 101- year-old grandmother. She saw me texting...
When I talk with others who have received a cancer diagnosis, they often want to know what my secret was. What did I do to survive cervical...
My most recent goal was to watch a marathon. Yes, watch.
I know that watching the race will motivate me to run another one. In...
During my recurrent cervical cancer treatment, I knew that mental strength was as important as my physical strength. But it was something...