breast cancer

Breaking the Silence: The Powerful Connection Between Breast and Cervical Cancer

This month, Cervivor is shining a spotlight on the critical link between breast and cervical cancer, by highlighting the importance of awareness, early detection, and collective action. Many individuals in our community have bravely faced both cancers or carry the gene that increases their risk. By sharing their inspiring stories, expert insights, and vital information, we aim to break the stigma surrounding these diseases and empower you to take control of your health – above or below the belt!

The Intersection of Breast and Cervical Cancer
Did you know that some individuals carrying the gene that increases breast cancer risk can still be diagnosed with cervical cancer? This surprising connection underscores the significance of regular screenings and open conversations. By understanding the importance and similar benefits of breast and cervical cancer screenings, we can harness the power of prevention and early detection.

Key Similarities in Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening

  1. Purpose: Screening and early detection help identify cancer or cancerous cells before symptoms appear.
  2. Benefits: Both improve survival rates, lower healthcare costs, and reduce the need for more extensive treatments.
  3. Effectiveness: Regular mammograms find breast cancer early, while cervical cancer screenings can prevent or detect cancer at an early stage.

The Power of Awareness and Action
Awareness is not just the first step toward change—it’s the spark that ignites transformation. By educating ourselves and others, we can:

  1. Break the stigma surrounding breast and cervical cancer fostering open conversations that empower and heal.
  2. Encourage regular screenings for early detection giving ourselves and our loved ones the best chance for successful treatment.
  3. Support research and advancements in cancer prevention paving the way for a healthier future for all.

But awareness goes beyond statistics and medical facts; it’s about the power of storytelling. Sharing our stories reminds us that we are not alone—it connects us, inspires us, and strengthens our community. Stories have the power to heal, to motivate, and to bring hope to those who need it most.

In the spirit of unity and empowerment, we’re honored to share the journeys of Kadiana and Karen, two Cervivor Ambassadors who were directly impacted by cervical and breast cancer:

Meet Kadiana, Cervivor Ambassador

Meet Kadiana, Cervivor Ambassador from St. Lucia, who faced a cervical cancer diagnosis at 37 while visiting her sister. Diagnosed with Stage III squamous cell carcinoma, she endured through 32 rounds of external radiation, 6 rounds of brachytherapy, and 6 sessions of chemotherapy. Her journey took a pivotal turn when she tested positive for the BRCA1 gene mutation, leading to preventative surgery, including a double mastectomy. Despite the trials, Kadiana continues to spread awareness of HPV, HPV vaccine, cervical cancer screening, and genetic testing. Read more about Kadiana here.

Meet Karen, Cervivor Ambassador

Karen’s journey is a testament to resilience and advocacy. After being diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer, she received a cervical cancer diagnosis just 18 months later. Despite facing immense challenges, Karen has become a proud Cervivor Ambassador, spreading awareness about HPV prevention and cervical cancer. Read Karen’s inspiring story on the blog.

Take Action Today
The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) is a crucial initiative by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) aimed at providing life-saving breast and cervical cancer screenings to underserved women. Since its inception in 1991, the program has screened over 5.6 million women, detecting more than 57,000 cases of breast cancer and 12,000 cases of cervical cancer. The NBCCEDP provides free or low-cost mammograms and Pap tests to eligible women who lack health insurance or cannot afford screening services.

The program operates in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several US territories, partnering with local health organizations to deliver these vital services. By targeting women who are most vulnerable to delayed or foregone care, the NBCCEDP helps bridge the gap in cancer screening disparities, reducing mortality rates and improving health outcomes for thousands of women each year. To learn more about eligibility and program locations, visit the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/breast-cervical-cancer-screening/.  

Here are some tips on how you can help us increase screening rates:

  1. Schedule your preventative screenings now, and encourage your friends to do the same.
  2. Share Kadiana’s video, and Karen’s story with someone and encourage them to share as well.
  3. Explore our featured Cervivor store items or donate to support our mission.
  4. Join upcoming events to connect with others and stay informed.

Together, We Can Make a Difference
By acknowledging the screening similarities  between breast and cervical cancer, we can:

  1. Save lives through early detection.
  2. Break the stigma surrounding these diseases.
  3. Empower future generations with knowledge and awareness.

This is more than a movement—it’s a collective mission. Share your story, your story has the power to inspire. Help us spread awareness, and work together to eliminate cervical cancer. Together, our collective strength is unstoppable. 

PRESS RELEASE: Cervivor Founder and Chief Visionary, Tamika Felder Invited to Share Opening Remarks for First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden and the American Cancer Society’s Launch of The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Roundtables

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In February 2022, the American Cancer Society announced they would be launching two national roundtables: one for cervical cancer and the other for breast cancer. This was a response to President Biden’s call to action in reducing cancer incidence and death rates faster. This initiative is to bring together leading organizations and experts in the cervical and breast cancer space to drive progress and improve the lives of cancer patients, as well as their families.

The objectives of the national roundtables align with the President’s Cancer Panel’s report Closing Gaps in Cancer Screening: Connecting People, Communities, and Systems to Improve Equity and Access. 

The report addresses the need to:

  • Improve and Align Communication: Develop effective communications about cancer screening that reach all populations; and expand and strengthen National Cancer Roundtables that include a focus on cancer screening.
  • Facilitate Equitable Access: Barriers contribute to lower rates of cancer screening initiation and the recommended follow-up observed among many populations in the United States; there is a need to provide and sustainably fund community-oriented outreach and support services to promote appropriate screening and follow-up care plus increase access to self-sampling for cancer screening.
  • Strengthen Workforce Collaborations: Team-based care has the potential to improve implementation of cancer screening but in order to accomplish this, supportive policies and a commitment to team-based care approaches are needed which include the empowerment of healthcare team members to support screening plus having the opportunity for training and residency programs; and expanding access to genetic testing and counseling for cancer risk assessments to catch cancer early.
  • Create effective health IT: Providers and patients alike are faced with more information than they can process in a reasonable amount of time. Health information technology (IT) has potential to help providers, patients, and healthcare systems quickly access and effectively use clinical knowledge and patient-specific data.

Cervivor Founder and Chief Visionary, Tamika Felder was invited to speak on behalf of cervical cancer patient advocates and their families to increase awareness, impact change, and work collectively towards eliminating cervical cancer. Tamika and Cervivor, Inc. have been long-standing influencers on the panel since 2003, helping to provide vision as well as patient stories. She shares, “For me it is personal. My legacy won’t be the lives that I bring into this world but the lives I will save.”

First Lady Jill Biden attends an American Cancer Society Roundtable event, Monday, October 24, 2022, in the State Dining Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)

Recording artist and cancer prevention advocate, Mary J. Blige shared the personal impact cancer has had on her family in recent years and why she has dedicated so much time to awareness. She phrases a key message, “I’ve dedicated time to making people understand their health is their wealth and urging them to make it a priority.”

American Cancer Society CEO, Dr. Karen Knudsen states, “We at the American Cancer Society represent all 1.9 million Americans that hear each year that they will have cancer and we are absolutely resonating with the goal of the Cancer Moonshot to end cancer as we know it.”

Dr. Karen Knudsen, Tamika Felder, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, and Mary J. Blige

Dr. Knudsen also brings to light that breast cancer still remains to be the second leading cause of cancer death for women in this country and number one for Black and Latina women. 14,000+ women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and over 4,000 will die from the disease. Black and Latina women are again, impacted at nearly twice the rate as their Caucasian peers.

First Lady, Dr. Biden emphasizes there should be no woman left behind. There is an absolute need for collaborative efforts including the patient advocate voice because this impacts us all. The focus is to put patients and their families at the center of their cancer – from diagnosis to survivorship and we are rewriting the narrative of cancer.

“We don’t have to be afraid of cancer anymore!” 

First Lady Jill Biden bids farewell to singer Mary J. Blige, American Cancer Society CEO Dr. Karen Knudsen and cancer survivor Tamika Felder after an American Cancer Society Roundtable event, Monday, October 24, 2022, in the Red Room of the White House. (Official White House Photo by Erin Scott)

We stand with the First Lady, the American Cancer Society, and so many more leading organizations. We are committed to this mission as we are reminded of the daily impact in our community of a cervical cancer diagnosis, the treatment and difficulties in survivorship, and of those lives that have been lost from a preventable disease.  

Watch the full livestream recording here.