Cancer free

21 Years of Cervivorship

Today, we’re celebrating a special edition of #TealandWhiteTuesday. Our Founder and Chief Visionary, Tamika Felder is celebrating 21 years of Cervivorship!

Tamika was just 25 years old when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer on April 12, 2001. She endured a hysterectomy stripping her of her fertility, followed by chemotherapy, and radiation. Cervical cancer changed her life forever. 

In 2005, she started Tamika & Friends, Inc. a nonprofit dedicated to cervical cancer survivors and their friends and family. At the time there truly wasn’t any support for cancer survivors and the Internet was just getting off the ground. Tamika needed support. She found the more she told her story, the more it reached other women. Tamika wanted to help empower others to share their stories and that’s how Cervivor was born!

But Tamika didn’t stop there. She understood her calling of living her life beyond a cervical cancer diagnosis. Over the years, she has continued to transform the lives of each person impacted by a cervical cancer diagnosis. Tamika not only empowers them to use their voice, but she teaches them that their pain can have purpose, and they have the power to create change.  

Here are a few things she’s learned as she looks back on her experience with cancer:

  • I was a survivor from the onset of my diagnosis. Each day is survivorship. Sure, there are huge milestones. The first year, the magical number 5. But what matters is each day is another day from the one before. 
  • No matter your faith (or lack thereof) cancer is scary. And it’s okay to be scared. 
  • We all get by with a little help (or really a lot) when it comes to cancer from our friends/family. 
  • You won’t ever be the same. As with any traumatic experience you are forever changed.
  • Accepting that cancer has changed you and living in the “new normal” means that you can move forward. Even if it’s at a slower pace. 
  • Life is meant to be lived. And it doesn’t matter how much time. Sure, I’ve never be told that there is nothing left but what I’ve learned from others who have is that you have to live while you have life within you. 
  • Surviving cancer doesn’t mean you have to live in a bubble. It also doesn’t mean you have to become a daredevil. 
  • Surviving means living. 

Tamika has dedicated her life to cancer advocacy from eliminating the stigma of the human papillomavirus (HPV) (and being deemed a “Cancer Rebel” by Newsweek), to training patient advocates to share their stories, and to eliminating the healthcare disparities within communities of color.

“My greatest lesson is that life comes with an expiration date — from cancer or otherwise. It matters what we do with our time here. Life continues to surprise me. I was diagnosed with cancer when I was 25. I’ll be 47 this year and life is still surprising me in the best way possible. I don’t know how many years I have left, but what I can tell you is that I am going to live in a way that says I survived cancer.”

– Tamika Felder, Founder and Chief Visionary, Cervivor


This is only a small fraction of what Tamika has accomplished since she began her journey with cervical cancer and we couldn’t be more grateful for her resilience and leadership to create the community we now know as Cervivor. Thank you, Tamika!

Join us in celebrating Tamika’s 21 years of Cervivorship by:
1. Start living life for YOU. Don’t wait until something traumatic happens to start living life.
2. Vote for Becky’s video. People die of cancer. I’m blessed to still be here. 
3. Donate $21 to Cervivor.
4. Schedule your cervical cancer screening.
5. Vaccinate your children and protect them from HPV-related cancers.

A Decade

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage and many take this day to drink their favorite Margaritas (no judgement).  For me “El Cinco de Mayo“ or the fifth of May has a different meaning.  It is the day I celebrate being cancer FREE.  This year I am celebrating 10 years. Therefore, in my mind, everyone is celebrating with me.  So have a margarita for me.  

 Wow! 10 years – a whole decade – what a blessing. 

It is amazing to me that I am here.  Ten years ago, I did not see this as a possibility.  I found myself in a battle fighting for my life.   

I had just retired from the NYC Police Department after 20 years as a Police Officer.  I was getting ready to enjoy life with my husband, but unfortunately, I was deviated from my plans.  Three months after I retired, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer stage IIB.  

What do I do now? Am I going to die?  So many questions and so little answers.  I did not know anyone with this cancer.  I did not even know where it came from.  I was blaming myself for not going to see the doctor on a regular basis.  I have not seen my GYN doctor for over three years.  So much blame, so much shame, so much anger, so much sadness.  

 My journey was difficult to say the least.  After 7 treatments of chemotherapy, 35 treatments of external radiation, and 2 treatments of internal radiation, I was lucky enough to beat this cancer. Yes, I call myself lucky because these past ten years I have seen so many Cervivor sisters that have not made it through.  This makes my heart feel so sad and it brings mixed emotions to the surface.  The common survivor question comes up “why did I make it and not them?”  Sometimes we have to settle for no right answer, but I can assure this – their stories will continue to be shared and they will not be forgotten.

Cancer for sure changed my life forever.  I can look at the negative side and say cancer changed my body. I live in fear that this cancer can come back, I live with the physical and mental scars that this monster left me, I deal with the many secondary effects of my treatments, and I can go on with a big list of many other things. However, I choose to focus on the positive things that cancer gave me – I am part of an extraordinary cervical cancer community.  I have met women that are courageous, brave, strong, determined and supportive.  Women that have personally inspired and motivated me. Women with the common mission to eliminate this cancer forever – that our generation be the last generation with cervical cancer.  

I choose to live every day like it was my last and if it is not; I drop to my knees and give thanks.  

After my cancer, I wanted to make my survivorship count, and Cervivor gave me the opportunity to do just that.  I am a survivor turned advocate.  

 I share my story as many times as I need to. I educate women on the prevention and on the tools; we can utilize to prevent a cervical cancer diagnosis.  I make parents aware of the HPV vaccine for their children.  A vaccine that protects their child for the future from the six different cancers linked to Human Papillomavirus.  

I will be advocating for ten years this coming October and I am determined to continue to do so in the hope to make a difference.  

I try to live every day in the state of love and gratitude.  I am grateful that I am here. I am grateful for these past 10 years.  

Patti is not only a Cervivor Ambassador but also Cervivor’s Wellness Instructor for our Survivor Slimdown Facebook group.