How my story begins: My cancer journey began April 2015, my menstrual cycle was abnormal, which for me was regular but between my cycles I would not stop spotting and that is when I thought to myself that something was not right. I went to my primary care doctor, and they completed a transvaginal examination, and the outcome was that I had a cyst. The cyst story went on for about 2 months. I kept seeing different doctors and they all kept telling me the same thing. I did not feel comfortable with the outcome of my transvaginal examination or any of the visits I had with different doctors because I was still spotting, which is when I decided to go to a specialized gynecologist in June and brought up my concerns.
Finally, I had found a practice that gave me different results, maybe not the results I wanted but the results that were indeed correct. The gynecologist started examining me for anything that may seem abnormal and found a lesion. He took a biopsy and called me back with the results a few days later, which is when I heard the words that you are never ready to hear, “You have cancer”. The Gynecologist referred and scheduled me for an appointment with Columbia Presbyterian Oncology & Gynecology so that I can begin this dreadful journey.
Life before my diagnosis: Before my diagnosis, I was living an unbalanced lifestyle. I had an unhealthy diet, I was out partying often, having erratic sleeping patterns, etc. However, to me it was a phase that all young adults encounter. I had started a full-time job, learning new things in a completely new field than what I had planned for myself, but I was enjoying it and then my life took a 180 turn
How I felt after diagnosis: I was heartbroken. Just hearing the word cancer made me feel like I wasn't normal. Then I realized how common it is and there was no choice but to fight it .
Telling my family and friends: This was the hardest part for me. I was so afraid - afraid of judgment, afraid of feeling like an outcast. When I decided to tell my close ones, the support I got was immense.
My treatment: July 1, 2015 was my first appointment with Columbia Presbyterian. They already had the pathology results that the gynecologist sent them, but they conducted another biopsy for specifics about my cancer. A few days later my results came back and again I heard the same words you never want to hear, “You have cervical cancer, stage IB2”. I had no idea what stage IB2 meant but I knew it wasn’t extremely advanced. Immediately I got scheduled for an MRI, and a PET-CT scan. My results read that I had some lymph nodes that were lighting up during the scan that was concerning, and the option was to have a lymphadenectomy surgery. Surgery was then scheduled for August 25. However, before getting surgery my parents decided to send me to the Dominican Republic to see if there was a more holistic approach. I saw a nutritionist that informed me he had cancer but changed his diet and was able to survive, he put me on a 21-day diet that included not eating any food with salt or sugar. I was only able to eat vegetables, fruit juices, and soup. I tried the holistic approach, but it wasn’t like it would immediately take my cancer away, so my parents and I decided it was best to have the surgery.
My lymphadenectomy surgery pathology came back negative, my cancer had not spread anywhere else which is when my doctors and I came up with a plan to have 4 chemotherapy sessions, scheduled 3 weeks apart from each other with the hope that the tumor would decrease and I can have a trachelectomy or hysterectomy surgery, so I started chemotherapy. After my third chemo we did an MRI and the tumor had shrunk but not enough as the doctors would have hoped. I was then scheduled for my second surgery; I had signed consent for either surgery depending on what the doctors could do to help me while surgery was taking place. On December 11, I went to the hospital early morning not knowing if this would be the day that my chances of having a child the “natural way” was going to be taken from me, but I commended myself to God and hoped for the best. Later in the day I was in the recovery room and my doctors confirmed that I was able to have the trachelectomy instead of the hysterectomy, and that for me was a win, because I still had a chance of keeping my fertility. At this point there wasn’t any more cancer detected, and that was the happiest I had been in months.
A few months down the line I had a check up at the oncologist and my cancer was back. Now, I didn’t have many options and anything I decided needed to be a quick decision because my chances at life seemed to be diminishing. My doctors gave me just a few weeks to go to a fertility clinic, get treatment done to freeze my eggs and then start another round of chemotherapy and radiation. I found a fertility clinic (Neway Fertility) that made things as easy as possible but as if I wasn’t tired enough, I had to start injecting myself with hormones everyday so that I can have an egg extraction procedure.
I had my procedure, saved the eggs I could and went back to my oncologist. I thought chemotherapy was difficult, but then I had to get up every single day and go to the hospital for radiation, no rest days beside the weekends and I was drained. Day by day, I just felt worse. I was always weak, nauseous, had no energy, and I didn’t even want to fight cancer anymore. I had the support of all my family, I never went to a chemotherapy or a radiation session alone, and in a sense that made me want to fight for my life because they were not giving up on me. Even the days that I was too tired to get up they would drag me out of my house to attend my sessions. The result of radiation was having skin burns; I couldn’t eat because I would throw everything up, and I just felt like that was it for me, I felt horrible, and I was exhausted. I was wheelchaired in and out of the hospital because I could barely walk. In between all these chemotherapy and radiations sessions, I was hospitalized countless times in the ICU department because I always had Tachycardia, and infections. On August 29, 2016, I had my hysterectomy, and although I knew this was going to happen, I don’t think I processed it until after my surgery because I could not stop crying knowing that my changes of natural birth were over. During one of my last hospitalizations, I was told by my team of doctors that chemotherapy wasn’t working, my tumor was not decreasing, and we could try a clinical trial (Immunotherapy – Keytruda). I agreed because I didn’t have anything else to lose, and wow did that work miracles for me.
Things started to take a turn for the good. In November 2017, I had a scan and finally it was negative, no evidence found. Again, one of the happiest moments of my life. I finally started feeling better, I wasn’t weak anymore, I was able to go back to work, I felt like myself again in a sense. I had immunotherapy sessions from about 2017-2019 as a maintenance treatment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, my doctors decided it was no longer necessary to continue any type of treatment and I felt like finally I was able to live a somewhat normal life, without having to worry about constantly going to the hospital aside from my checkups.
What was most difficult for me: During my diagnosis I was always devastated, I didn’t have a happy moment, because I was always crying. Although I had the support of my family the first month was difficult because I refused to tell anyone, including my parents. I was first going to appointments alone and my doctors said I would need support, which is when I decided to let go of this fear I had and tell my parents. My parents told more & more family members that also gave me their undivided support and attention. Columbia Presbyterian also introduced me to Cervivor, and Patti became like my 2nd mother, she guided me every step of the way since she is also a Cervivor.
My life after cancer: My life after cancer has been good. Of course you are never the same, but I cannot complain, and I can only thank God for giving me the chance to continue living. I have completed my master’s degree; I am living healthier than I was a few years ago and I just feel appreciative to continue being here.
What I want other women to know: I want other women to know that this can happen to anyone but don't be ashamed because it's better to find out late than never. Also, check yourselves always and never forget to listen to your gut feeling.
How I will try to help others: I will try to help others by sharing my story, being an advocate, and my goal is to complete Cervivor School. I recently shared part of my story for the first time ever and I thought I was over this, but my tears could not stop, it felt empowering and at the same time felt like I was reliving that moment of my life. But I felt strong, and I know that others, especially Patti, that have been there with me since Day 1 felt extremely proud. I am excited to continue to see life through a different light and to continue to learn and educate others about cervical cancer.