By Samantha R. Paguio

When my mom Joslyn’s cervical cancer came back in 2021, I was only eight years old.

Before then, cancer was just something I’d seen on TV. I had no idea it could happen to someone I loved — or how much it would change our family’s life.

What made it even scarier was learning this wasn’t my mom’s first battle. When she was just 18 years old, she was diagnosed with severe cervical dysplasia. Years later, she developed cervical cancer, and after treatment, she thought the hardest part was behind her. She never imagined she’d have to face it again.

Today, I’m 13 and a half, and I’m old enough to be part of decisions that can help protect my own future. That’s why, when it was time for me to get the HPV vaccine, my answer was simple: “Yes.” 

The Day Everything Changed

My mom is the strongest person I know. She works hard every day to provide for me. She’s there for the hurdles I face, the celebrations I have, and all the important moments in my life. So when she told me she had cervical cancer, my whole world flipped upside down.

Back then, my favorite things to do were playing with my friends, reading tons of books, and watching Disney Channel shows. The thought of cancer had never really crossed my mind. The only thing I knew about it was that it made you sick and sometimes you had to shave your hair off.

Coming home from school that day, my mom greeted me with open arms and a huge smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. I knew she was troubled, but I didn’t know why. About an hour later, she and my dad sat me down on our couch and told me she had cervical cancer and would need surgery.

At first, I didn’t really understand what they were saying. She’d been sick this whole time? Was she going to be okay? Was she going to die?

I cried in her arms, telling her how scared I was and asking all the questions running through my head. My mom never faltered while explaining what was going to happen. She encouraged me to ask questions about her journey with cervical cancer and assured me that she was going to be okay.

Watching My Mom Heal

The next month, she had a hysterectomy. The surgery was successful, and she came home the very next day. My grandma picked me up from school and told me Mom was doing okay and that I could finally see her.

When I got home, I ran upstairs expecting to see my mom full of life and happy to see me. Instead, I saw her struggling just to sit up and say “hello.” She smiled at me, but I could tell she was in pain. My heart broke.

It always seemed like my mom could handle anything. Seeing her hurting like that was one of the hardest things I’d ever experienced. I remember one night when my dad was helping her into bed, and she cried because moving hurt so much. It felt awful watching someone I love suffer when there wasn’t anything I could do to make it better. That night, I went to bed with a heavy heart, hoping each new day would help my mom heal a little more.

Watching my mom recover showed me what strength really looks like. It also showed me that cancer doesn’t just affect one person — it affects an entire family.

Over the next few months, my mom slowly got stronger. She worked hard to take care of herself while still being there for me and my family. Her experience also made all of us think more about our own health, and we started making healthier choices as a family. We also started doing more things together, including taking mother-daughter trips. I love those trips because we get to bond and see the world together.

The next year, she attended Cervivor School and became even more involved in helping other people affected by cervical cancer.

Today, she’s a Cervivor Ambassador and host of the Cervivor Podcast. I feel super proud of her. She’s been through so much, and seeing her advocate for and help people affected by cervical cancer and HPV makes me feel like she can do anything in the world. She works so hard every day to make sure more people know about cervical cancer.

What My Mom Taught Me

Throughout this journey with my mom, I’ve learned so much about cancer and about life.

I learned that cancer is scary and can turn a person’s life upside down. I also learned how important it is to be there for the people you love, even if all you can do is sit with them, hug them, or make them smile.

Watching my mom share her story has also made me want to share mine. I want people to hear the perspective of someone who has watched a family member go through cancer and of someone who has gotten the HPV vaccine. It makes me proud to share my story, too. 

Here are a few things I hope other kids and families learn from my story:

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. When my mom told me she had cancer, I was scared. Asking questions helped me understand what was happening instead of feeling even more scared.
• If you have a chance to help protect yourself, take it. Getting the HPV vaccine felt more important than an everyday flu shot. Seeing what my mom and all my “Cervivor aunties” had gone through made me want to do what I could to lower my own risk of cancer. Afterward, I felt really safe knowing it could help lower my risk of cervical cancer and other HPV-related cancers.
• Be there for the people you love. You might not be able to fix what they’re going through, but a hug, a laugh, or just spending time together can mean more than you realize.

I think it’s important for kids my age to learn about cervical cancer and HPV and the ways we can help protect ourselves. Knowing more about it helped me make a choice that felt right for me.

Hear Samantha and Joslyn share more about their family’s cervical cancer experience, the HPV vaccine, and what they’ve learned from each other along the way in a special National Immunization Awareness Month episode of the Cervivor Podcast.

Learn More About HPV Vaccination

Want to learn more? Explore trusted information about HPV vaccination and cancer prevention from Cervivor, the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program, and Vaccinate Your Family. Talk with your healthcare provider about what’s right for you or your child.

About the Author 

Samantha R. Paguio is a 13-year-old eighth grader in Southern California and the daughter of Cervivor Ambassador and Cervivor Podcast host Joslyn Chaiprasert-Paguio. She hopes to pursue a career in neuroscience and is a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo. Samantha also loves playing guitar and piano, going to concerts, traveling, trying new foods, and spending time with friends and family. A big football fan, she loves cheering on the Los Angeles Chargers and attended training camp with her dad this year.