Cervivor Ambassador

“Your cervix looks different this year”

“Your cervix looks different this year,” said my primary care doctor several years ago, as she performed the pelvic exam part of my annual exam. I remember chuckling to myself, not fully grasping the severity of her comment yet. Instead, I laid on the table thinking, “How does she remember what my cervix looks like from year to year?”

My doctor referred me to a gynecologist when the exam was over. I didn’t understand, but I also didn’t ask any questions. I visited the gynecologist two days later. She performed a colposcopy and referred me to an oncologist. Two days after that, I met with the oncologist and he told me that I had stage 2B cervical cancer. What started out as a routine exam had quickly turned into a life-threatening diagnosis.

What if…? What if…? What if…?

How could I have cervical cancer? I didn’t feel sick. I had no symptoms. (Cervical cancer symptoms can include, but are not limited to, abnormal vaginal discharge, bleeding between periods, or pelvic pain during intercourse.) I went to my doctor every year for my annual well-woman exam and the results of my Pap tests always came back normal. But somehow, in the span of only one year, a 4 cm tumor had grown on my cervix. In one year, I went from having a normal Pap test result to having cancer. What a difference one year can make.

I started chemotherapy and radiation treatment to save my life. Doctors declared me cancer-free after I completed these treatments over the course of a few months. Today, I am a seven-year cervical cancer survivor. But my story could have been drastically different if I had skipped my well-woman exam that year.

What if I had used an excuse, like “I’m too busy”, to justify putting off that appointment? Or what if I had told myself that skipping one year wouldn’t hurt anything because I’m a generally healthy person? What if I had assumed my Pap test results would continue to be normal like they always had been? How much longer would my cancer have gone undetected? How far would my cancer have spread without my knowing? Would my prognosis have been different if my cancer wasn’t detected when it was? Would I even be alive today?

The importance of annual visits and cancer screenings

A cancer diagnosis is life changing. A cancer screening is lifesaving. Scheduling my annual exam saved my life. My cancer was detected early enough to be effectively treated because I went to my doctor every year.

If I had not scheduled my exam that year, my cancer would have continued to grow undetected and my life would have been at risk.

Preventative care exams are a breast exam, pelvic exam, and a Pap (and HPV) test. A Pap test looks for abnormal cells. If needed, these can be treated before they become cancerous. The HPV test looks for high-risk HPV that can cause abnormal cells. This lets your healthcare provider monitor you more closely for cell changes.. When the Pap test and HPV test are both performed during an exam, it is referred to as co-testing.

What are you waiting for?!

  • Reduce your risk for cervical cancer through screening tests, like the Pap test and HPV test.
  • Take care of yourself by scheduling your annual well-woman exam.
  • Raise awareness for cervical cancer detection and prevention by telling your family and friends to schedule their annual well-woman exams.
  • Benefit from Iowa’s Care for Yourself program, which provides free or low-cost cancer screenings for Iowans. Many other states have free or low-cost cancer screening programs too. Be sure to visit your state or county health department’s website.
  • Make a resolution to protect your health all year long.

About the Author

Emily Hoffman is a seven-year cervical cancer survivor who was diagnosed with stage 2B cervical cancer at age 30. She is a patient advocate and Cervivor Ambassador who shares her cancer story to raise awareness for cervical cancer and educate others on the importance of cancer screenings and prevention. Emily is the recipient of the 2020 Cervivor Spark Award. She is currently pursuing her certification to become a cancer registrar.

Creating New Habits Instead of Resolutions

Did you make a New Year’s Resolution? I used to, but then I just got tired of just not sticking to it and giving it up all together after the first month.

We have to acknowledge that there are people out there that keep their resolutions throughout the year and are successful. However, statistics show that even though millions of Americans make resolutions, less than 8% actually stick to them.

Therefore, we are going to stick to small changes. Changes that are actually achievable while we are working on our consistency muscle. The more you are consistent and succeed, the greater confidence in your ability to do it again. It actually helps you grow the belief that you can do it.  

I am inviting you to join our first challenge of the 2021 on Survivor Slimdown. Survivor Slimdown is a Facebook group open to ALL CANCER SURVIVORS. It is a space for inspiration, motivation and accountability as we learn to navigate our way to health.  Also, join me for a virtual workout on Wednesday, January 6th. Register for free here: https://bit.ly/37GpDjr 

The January challenge consists of creating new habits. Over time, patterns form both in behavior and in the brain. This can make it difficult to break a habit or even to form new ones. Therefore, we will start easy and we will succeed. 

As a group, we will work on two habits for the month, but if you want to add a third one on your own please do – just remember to make it small, sustainable, specific and achievable. We will stick to these actions for the 31 days in January.  We will use the habit tracker and cross each day for accountability. Our mantra for the month is “NEVER MISS TWICE.”

Habit 1

Drink an 8oz. glass of water after waking up and before having any food and/or coffee.

Drinking water in the morning will help you kick-start your metabolism.  Staying hydrated helps your body start to burn calories faster, which is vital when you are trying to shed body fat. Even if you are not looking to lose any body fat, hydrating the body brings many health benefits. 

Habit 2

Move your body for 10 minutes a day.  If you get to do more than 10 minutes great, but the minimum is 10 minutes. (Walk, dance, ride your bike, stretch, etc.)  Stay true to yourself.  

Moving is the best medicine for the body and the mind. It strengthens your muscles, which improves stability, balance and coordination. Stretching maintains muscle health as well. Movements help build more durable and denser bones.

Habit 3

The third habit is your choice. It cannot be something that you already do in your daily routine. Some examples of the third habit can be:

  • Wake up an hour earlier than usual
  • Meditate for 5-10 minutes in the morning
  • Add a veggie to each meal you eat
  • Make your bed after you get up – if you are not doing this already
  • Go to bed at a specific time at night
  • Chew your food 22 times before swallowing
  • Journal on a daily basis for 31 days
  • Read 10 pages every day of the book you have been wanting to read
  • Write three things you are grateful for every day
  • Say a daily affirmation
  • Learn a new word every day

The above are examples of small habits but you can choose any habit that aligns to your master goal.

Remember, if you want to drink more than 8oz of water in the morning before food or coffee you can. If you want to move more than 10 minutes a day you can. The concept is for your habit to be achievable and not get too overwhelmed. When we feel overwhelmed, we tend to quit. Quitting is not an option.  

Let us start this year with a successful month by sticking to these small and achievable habits. We got this!

Patti is a Cervivor Ambassador and Cervivor’s Wellness Instructor who manages our Survivor Slimdown Facebook group. She is a retired NYPD police officer and an 11 year cervical cancer survivor. She resides in NYC with her husband of 21 years where she’s a Group Fitness Instructor and a Health Advocate.