By Kyle Minnis, Cervivor Communications Assistant

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities are often discussed as though they are a single group. In reality, they represent more than 25 million Asian Americans and roughly 1.7 million Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the United States alone, with roots tracing across dozens of countries and cultures spanning the largest geographic region in the world.

That diversity matters when it comes to cervical cancer prevention and care.

Different countries across Asia and the Pacific have vastly different rates of HPV infection, cervical cancer incidence, screening access, and vaccination uptake. Those differences don’t disappear once families immigrate to the United States. In fact, they often continue here, shaped by factors like language access, insurance coverage, cultural beliefs, immigration status, healthcare discrimination, and whether families have access to culturally relevant information.

But when all AANHPI people are grouped together in research and public health data, those differences can become invisible.

“It’s so important to disaggregate cervical cancer data because we have seen how incidence, stage at diagnosis, screening rates, and cancer outcomes can vary widely across different AANHPI communities,” says Dr. Mihae Song, M.D., of the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program at the City of Hope. “If we can better recognize and understand where disparities exist, we can then direct resources and interventions to the communities that need them most to overcome unique cultural and structural barriers they face.” 

This Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, we’re exploring some of the factors behind these gaps while highlighting the experiences and voices of Cervivor community members. 

Dr. Song was a past guest on the Cervivor Podcast, discussing health disparities in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community.

Where Disparities Exist in AANHPI Communities

While Asian American women overall appear to have lower cervical cancer rates than the national average, that broad data masks important disparities between communities:

• Some Southeast Asian groups, including Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian women, have historically faced significantly higher cervical cancer rates.
• Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women experience disproportionately high cervical cancer mortality rates.
• Asian American women have some of the lowest cervical cancer screening rates in the United States, often due to cultural stigma, modesty, language barriers, or lack of culturally competent care.
• HPV vaccination and routine Pap and HPV testing can prevent nearly all cervical cancer cases, yet many AANHPI families still lack access to trusted, culturally resonant information and care.

These disparities reflect systemic inequities, not individual choices. 

Cultural Silence and the Weight of Stigma

Across many Asian and Pacific Islander cultures, deep-seated stigma around reproductive health can make cancer a taboo subject, leaving many survivors to navigate their diagnoses in isolation.

This silence is often compounded by cultural barriers like strict modesty, a traditional reluctance to burden family members, and the pervasive “model minority” myth, which frequently masks healthcare disparities in AANHPI communities and causes critical symptoms or screenings to be overlooked.

“In many Asian immigrant communities, people often do not grow up openly discussing gynecologic health, vaccines, or Pap smears — even within their families,” says Dr. Song, who is fluent in both English and Korean. “Language barriers, discomfort with pelvic exams, and cultural stigma can all contribute to lower screening rates and more advanced cervical cancer diagnoses.”

For Cervivor Founder and Chief Visionary Tamika Felder, creating a supportive community for AANHPI individuals to share openly comes from a personal place.

“We know there are more women out there who are suffering in silence and could benefit from safe spaces like Cervivor,” Tamika says. “We’ve lost women like Becky Wallace and Gina Gossett far too soon, and we owe it to them — and to the AANHPI individuals with cervixes who still haven’t shared their stories — to keep having these conversations openly and compassionately.”

Those conversations happen through programs like Cervivor’s Cervical Cancer Patient Advocacy for Communities of Color Retreat and Asian & Pacific Islander virtual meetups — empowering spaces where cervical cancer patients, survivors, and thrivers within the AANHPI community can speak freely, support one another, and feel seen. (The next virtual meetup is Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT for those interested in joining.)

By sharing their experiences publicly, the following Cervivor community members hope to challenge stigma, encourage prevention, and help others in AANHPI communities feel less alone. 

Janice’s Story: “Find Your People and Forget the Taboo”

Nevada-based survivor Janice Le-Nguyen says cultural expectations shaped how she processed her cervical cancer diagnosis after being diagnosed with stage I endocervical adenocarcinoma at age 32 in 2021.  

Although she had been experiencing irregular periods, her previous Pap test had come back normal. So when she finally sought care during the pandemic, the diagnosis “was not even on the radar” for either her or her doctor. One of the hardest parts, she says, was figuring out how to tell her family.

“I was not the one to tell my parents after that doctor visit,” Janice shares. “I called my sister and asked her to tell them initially because I didn’t know how to tell them that their youngest daughter had cancer, and cervical cancer at that.” She also remembers struggling to even find the Vietnamese words to describe her diagnosis.

Janice underwent a LEEP procedure followed by a hysterectomy and lymph node dissection. Looking back, she wishes there had been more open conversations around HPV prevention and both Pap and HPV testing in her community. “While the conversations may be uncomfortable for the AANHPI population, I think current and future generations would benefit,” she says.

Today, nearly two years with no evidence of disease (NED), Janice is using her story to help others let go of stigma and prioritize their health.

“Find your people and forget the taboo,” she says. “You may be the one person who’s able to bring someone out of their shell to encourage them on the path to screening and advocating for their health if anything ever feels off.”

Satyani’s Story: From Silence to Self-Advocacy

For survivor Satyani McPherson, the silence surrounding sexual health was shaped not only by cultural stigma, but also by trauma.

Of Hawaiian, Chinese, English, African American, and Choctaw heritage, Satyani says many of the cultures she grew up around shared similar taboos surrounding sexuality and reproductive health. After surviving multiple instances of sexual assault beginning in childhood, conversations about sexual health became especially difficult. 

Negative healthcare experiences later reinforced those fears, making pelvic exams and screenings emotionally and physically uncomfortable over the years. After being diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease in her twenties, Satyani recalls that “the doctor acted as though I had the cooties,” leaving her feeling “uncomfortable and hesitant to ask questions about the disease, its side effects, and treatment.”

In her fifties, doctors discovered abnormal cervical cells and recommended a hysterectomy, which she declined at the time. Years later, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Initially pursuing alternative therapies and holistic treatments, Satyani eventually underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and brachytherapy after the cancer progressed to stage II.

Treatment was physically and emotionally grueling, particularly given her history of trauma. Still, compassionate providers, mindfulness practices, and support from her husband helped carry her through. “I was not ready to resign my life to a cancer diagnosis,” she says, adding that her husband’s support helped her make the difficult decision to pursue conventional treatment.

Now, one year NED, Satyani is sharing her story publicly for the first time through Cervivor to encourage others to prioritize HPV vaccination, regular screenings, safe sex practices, and open conversations about sexual health. “I have been inspired to educate others so they can make conscious choices to avoid this devastating disease and treatment,” she says.

Why Storytelling Saves Lives

Some AANHPI subgroups face cervical cancer rates two or three times higher than the U.S. average, even though cervical cancer is largely preventable through HPV vaccination, regular screenings, and timely treatment. But data alone cannot tell the full story.

At Cervivor, we believe survivor stories create understanding, trust, and connection — especially in communities where silence around cancer and sexual health can still run deep. By speaking openly, sharing culturally relevant information, and advocating for equitable care, survivors and allies can help close these gaps and save lives.

This AANHPI Heritage Month, here are a few ways to support Cervivor’s mission and strengthen the community:

• Share your story. Your experience may help someone else feel seen, understood, or encouraged to seek care.
• Get screened and vaccinated. Schedule your Pap or HPV test, and encourage eligible loved ones to receive the HPV vaccine.
• Join the Cervivor community. Support groups, advocacy programs, meetups, and Cervivor School offer connection, education, and empowerment.
• Spread awareness. Challenge stigma and encourage conversations about prevention, screening, and survivorship in your own community.
• Connect with us on socials or subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news, resources, and community events. 

Every story matters. Every community matters. And together, we can work toward ending cervical cancer for everyone.

About the Author

Kyle Minnis is a recent graduate of Strategic Communications at the University of Kansas with a passion for digital media, storytelling, and audience engagement. He has experience in content strategy and media production. Kyle is especially interested in the intersection of media, branding, and digital growth.