Cervivor Stories

A Cervical Cancer Survivor’s Story: How Lack of HPV Awareness Turned Me Into an Advocate

This is the cervical cancer story of Anna Ogo. You can read her full Cervivor Story here.

Before my diagnosis, I did not understand HPV, the human papillomavirus, at all. But I was always the kind of person who followed rules. I liked doing what I was “supposed to do.” So when I turned 20 in Japan, received a free voucher from my city for a Pap test, and went in for my first test, I felt proud. It made me feel like I had stepped into adulthood by taking responsibility for my health. The routine Pap test became part of my life, and I never missed a screening.

Anna traveling throughout her early twenties.

Growing Up Without HPV Awareness

In my twenties, I had a few abnormal Pap tests. Each time, I went back for a retest, and the results returned to normal. The doctors told me not to worry, and I didn’t think about it too much. I was busy trying to work hard and play hard during my prime years, and there seemed to be so many things I was “supposed to do.” Once the retest came back normal, I felt relieved, and I was done. I did not know what an abnormal Pap really meant, and I did not know there was an HPV test. (In Japan, HPV testing was not part of routine screening back then. I only received Pap tests, and I had never heard of anyone talking about HPV at all.) Screening felt like a responsible adult task that I simply checked off each year.

When an HPV Diagnosis Led to Cervical Cancer

Years later, when I moved to the United States, I went in for a routine health check. This time, the Pap test came back abnormal again, and the HPV test was positive. I felt confused and unprepared. I had done everything I thought I was supposed to do. I kept wondering how this could happen. That moment led to more testing, a colposcopy, and eventually my cervical cancer diagnosis. Everything moved quickly, and I struggled to connect my past experiences to what was happening now. I had so many questions.

Treatment during the COVID pandemic meant Anna was alone for most of her appointments.

After treatment, I was left with many emotions. The strongest ones were shame and guilt. My heart ached every time I saw the words “cervical cancer is preventable.” It made me feel as if I had failed, even though I thought I did everything I was supposed to do. I felt lost and alone. I often thought everyone else somehow knew more than I did. These feelings stayed with me for a long time. Only now do I understand that it was because HPV is surrounded by silence and misunderstanding.

Learning the Truth About HPV and Prevention

Everything began to change when I found Cervivor. For the first time, I learned what HPV really is, how common it is, and how cervical cancer develops. I learned there are two types of tests (the Pap and HPV test), how screening and follow-up work, why abnormal results matter, and how important early detection is. I also learned about the HPV vaccine and how powerful it can be. These were things I wish I had known years earlier. Being part of Cervivor also taught me that my story has value. Hearing other survivors speak openly made me feel understood and helped me release some of the shame I carried.

Anna at Cervivor School 2022
Anna with Cervivor founder Tamika Felder

As I learned more, I discovered that HPV can be tricky. Most people clear it on their own without ever knowing they had it, but some people do not. There are many different types of HPV, and only a small number can lead to cancer. HPV can also come and go, so even if you test negative at one point, it does not always mean the virus has completely disappeared. Because of this, it can be hard to know who will develop changes and when. Learning these facts from trusted experts helped me understand that what happened to me was not something I caused. It helped me feel more confident and gave me back a sense of control.

Turning a Cervical Cancer Experience Into HPV Advocacy

Becoming an advocate has given meaning to my experience. I now make an effort to stay up to date with new information because things continue to change, and mostly for the better. Tools like self-collection testing give me hope for easier and more comfortable screening in the future. Education is improving. Vaccine access is growing. All of this gives me a sense of hope.

Today, I raise awareness by sharing my story in spaces where honest conversations about HPV and cervical cancer matter. I have spoken at a medical conference in South Korea, standing in front of oncology doctors and sharing my experience not as a case study, but as a person who lived through diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Being able to speak directly to healthcare professionals has helped me feel that my experience can contribute to better understanding and care.

Anna representing Cervivor at a conference. Cervivor provided her with training, community, and practical materials that she says helped her share accurate information and advocate with confidence.

I am especially passionate about reaching Japanese communities, where conversations about HPV have often been limited. I have written about my journey for a Japanese community magazine in the United States and participated in the Teal Blue Japan project in 2022. Through these efforts, I hoped to share information I never had growing up and to help create space for more open and informed conversations.

In Washington State, my advocacy has focused on prevention and education. I have spoken with pediatric healthcare professionals who work directly with families and are involved in administering the HPV vaccine. I currently serve on the leadership team of HPV Free Washington, where I work alongside others who are committed to reducing HPV-related cancers. I have also been honored to receive a Cervical Cancer Awareness Month proclamation from the Washington State Governor’s Office, as well as one from my local city. These moments allow me to speak publicly about prevention and remind me that survivor voices belong in community and policy spaces.

Anna receiving a proclamation for Cervical Cancer Awareness Month from her city (Kent, WA). Local recognition supports awareness, encourages screening, and opens the door for important conversations about prevention.

Advocacy did not come naturally to me at first. Through Cervivor, I learned how to share my story with care, accuracy, and purpose. I was trained to speak about HPV and cervical cancer in ways that educate without blame and inform without fear. Cervivor helped me see that lived experience can bridge gaps between patients, providers, and communities. That understanding transformed my pain into purpose and gave me the confidence to keep showing up. — Anna Ogo

I want to be part of this progress. I want to help others feel informed, supported, and empowered. I cannot change my past, but I can use my voice to improve someone else’s future. Advocacy has become a meaningful part of my life, and it gives purpose to something that once caused me so much pain.

About the Author

Anna Ogo is a cervical cancer survivor and Cervivor Ambassador whose journey across cultures shaped her passion for education and advocacy. Outside of this work, she loves traveling, spending time with family, and life with her dog. Anna shares her story in the hope that clear information and lived experience can help others feel more confident and supported.

Marking a Milestone: Q&A on the First World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day

Is it really possible to eliminate cervical cancer—not just reduce it or manage it, but wipe it off the map for good? The World Health Organization (WHO) says yes, and has set ambitious global targets to get there by 2030.

The WHO’s 90‑70‑90 cervical cancer elimination strategy calls for:

  • 90% of girls vaccinated against HPV by age 15
  • 70% of women screened by age 35 and again at 45
  • 90% of those diagnosed receiving timely treatment

But meeting this deadline will take more than aspiration—it will take collective action. And today is a major step forward.

November 17, 2025, is the first-ever World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, designated earlier this year by the World Health Assembly. Think of it like World AIDS Day or World Polio Day—global observances that didn’t just raise awareness, but helped spark the vaccines, screenings, and policies that pushed those diseases to the brink of eradication.

Cervivor, Inc. Founder and Chief Visionary Tamika Felder and Nigeria’s First Lady and healthcare pioneer, Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, were among the leaders who advocated for the day’s creation, including co-authoring a global call to action via the World Economic Forum to support it and elevate its importance on the world stage.

“I started Cervivor 20 years ago to support those affected by cervical cancer, hoping one day it wouldn’t be needed,” Tamika reflected at the time. “But too many communities are still suffering and dying from this preventable disease. A global day of recognition sends a powerful message: Awareness isn’t enough—the time for education, action, and elimination is now.”

Tamika delivers her annual “State of Cervical Cancer” address at the 2025 Cervical Cancer Summit—rallying survivors, advocates, and health leaders toward a future free from cervical cancer.

Below, we bring you an exclusive Q&A with Tamika and Dr. Bagudu, who is also Founder and CEO of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation and President-elect of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), answering the same questions from Maryland, USA, and Kebbi State, Nigeria, respectively. Their voices—one from the frontlines of African health equity and the other from the heart of patient advocacy—remind us: Elimination isn’t a solo act. It’s a chorus.

Q: Why does World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day matter?

Tamika: As a cervical cancer survivor, this day feels deeply personal. It represents something I once couldn’t imagine: hope for a world where no one else has to hear the words “you have cervical cancer.” When the World Health Organization declared that eliminating cervical cancer is within reach, it turned our fight from awareness into action.

For survivors, this first official World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day is a milestone that honors every story, every loss, and every victory along the way. It reminds us that our voices matter and that lived experience can guide smarter policies, stronger outreach, and more compassionate care.

Dr. Bagudu: World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day is symbolic—a rallying point for action. The WHO’s declaration that elimination is within reach shows this is an achievable reality if we commit to the right strategies.

  • Globally, it unites countries around a common goal: HPV vaccination, wider screening, and timely treatment. As President-elect of the UICC, I see this observance as a vital tool to keep cervical cancer high on the agenda, especially for low- and middle-income countries.
  • Nationally in Nigeria, it validates years of advocacy by First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), which I co-founded. The FLAC Screening Clinic in Kebbi is one example of how global commitments can translate into local action.
  • Personally, it is deeply meaningful. As a physician, mother, and advocate, I have seen both the devastation of late diagnosis and the hope that comes with early screening or HPV vaccination.

Ultimately, this day transforms aspiration into accountability. It tells the world: We can, and we must, eliminate this disease in our lifetime.

Dr. Bagudu, presenting a diagram of the female reproductive system to women in a rural community in Kuje, Abuja, aims to empower people in her country—and around the world—with life-saving information on cervical cancer prevention and the importance of early screening.

Q: How can a global day like this drive real change?

Tamika: We’ve seen the power of global observances before. Days like World AIDS Day and World Polio Day didn’t just raise awareness; they mobilized action, funding, and accountability. World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day can do the same.

In the United States, it can shine a light on the inequities that persist in prevention and care while inspiring innovation and collaboration. When survivors, clinicians, policymakers, and advocates unite around a shared message, we can accelerate progress toward eliminating this preventable cancer.

Dr. Bagudu: Nigeria has made important strides. The government’s rollout of the HPV vaccination program is a landmark step, protecting millions of young girls. Screening services are also expanding, with initiatives like the FLAC Screening Clinic in Kebbi showing how early detection can be brought closer to communities.

Civil society has been central. Through First Ladies Against Cancer (FLAC), we’ve sustained awareness campaigns, mobilized resources, and ensured continuity of programs. Partnerships with groups like Roche and the Clinton Health Access Initiative have strengthened diagnostics and treatment pathways. And of course, the Medicaid Cancer Foundation is at the heart of it all.

Still, challenges remain. Many rural women face barriers of distance, cost, and stigma. Shortages of trained health workers delay follow-up and treatment. And while HPV vaccines are now part of the national program, consistent supply and uptake across all states will require sustained political will and funding.

For me, this progress proves that change is possible when government, civil society, and partners work together. But it also reminds us that elimination will not happen automatically—it demands accountability, innovation, and persistence.

Q: Why is cervical cancer elimination especially urgent in low-resource regions?

Tamika: The U.S. has the knowledge and tools to prevent nearly all cervical cancers, yet persistent inequities mean prevention isn’t reaching everyone. Communities of color, people in rural areas, immigrants, people without reliable insurance, and those with language or transportation barriers face higher risks and lower access to vaccination, screening, and timely treatment. As a survivor, I know how much access, awareness, and advocacy can determine outcomes.

Elimination in the U.S. must start with equity. That means expanding vaccination access in schools and clinics, funding community-led education, and supporting policies that make screening and treatment affordable and available for everyone. Until every community is reached, we have not truly achieved elimination.

At the recent Patient Advocacy Retreat for Communities of Color in New Orleans, Tamika Felder (far right) leads survivors and advocates in grassroots outreach—bringing life-saving cervical cancer education directly into underserved communities.

Dr. Bagudu: Cervical cancer is a stark example of global health inequity. While it is increasingly rare in high-income countries, including the U.S., it remains a leading cause of cancer deaths in Africa, where women are more likely to be diagnosed late, less likely to access treatment, and more likely to die from a preventable disease.

In Nigeria, the challenges are clear:

  • Access is uneven; urban women may find screening in tertiary hospitals, but rural women face long distances, high costs, and limited awareness.
  • Stigma and cultural barriers discourage care until symptoms are advanced.
  • Health system gaps include shortages of trained personnel, diagnostic tools, and reliable vaccine supply chains.

Yet there are real opportunities. The national HPV vaccination rollout can protect millions of girls. Screening is expanding through models like the FLAC Clinic in Kebbi, which shows how state leadership can drive change. Through the Medicaid Cancer Foundation and First Ladies Against Cancer, we’ve raised awareness, supported patients, and built partnerships that strengthen care.

As President-elect of UICC, I can amplify Africa’s voice globally, while at the grassroots, we continue training health workers and engaging communities. Cervical cancer elimination is urgent because every delay costs lives—but with political will, investment, and collaboration, it is achievable, and African women must not be left behind.

Q: What progress have you seen—and what gaps remain?

Dr. Bagudu: We are at a turning point. In Nigeria and across Africa, real progress has been made against cervical cancer.

The national HPV vaccination rollout is a landmark milestone, protecting millions of girls. Screening services are expanding, with clinics like the FLAC Screening Clinic in Kebbi, and awareness campaigns are beginning to shift cultural attitudes. Treatment capacity is also improving, with more cancer centers equipped for radiotherapy and chemotherapy, while education efforts keep cancer high on the agenda.

Still, the gaps are stark. Too many women are diagnosed late, rural and low-income communities face barriers of distance, cost, and stigma, and health systems struggle with workforce shortages, supply chain issues, and limited palliative care.

This is why innovation is critical. Self-collection for HPV testing, digital health tools, mobile outreach, and task-shifting to community health workers can expand access dramatically.

The Medicaid Cancer Foundation (MCF) is helping bridge these gaps by running awareness campaigns, supporting screening in urban and rural areas, providing financial and psychosocial support through our PACE program, and advocating for sustainable funding and best practices. Beyond Nigeria, we collaborate with regional and global partners to strengthen advocacy and ensure Africa’s challenges are reflected in international strategies.

In short, progress is real, but urgency remains. With innovation, collaboration, and sustained commitment, we can close the gaps and move decisively toward eliminating cervical cancer across the continent.

Dr. Bagudu speaks at the just-concluded Medicaid Cancer Foundation disbursement of roughly $70,000 to cancer patients in Abuja, highlighting the Foundation’s commitment to patient-centered care and financial support.

Tamika: From where I stand, what’s changing most is momentum. More people are learning that HPV causes cervical cancer, vaccination rates are improving in some regions, and new technologies like HPV self-collection are showing incredible promise. Survivors are stepping into leadership roles and helping shape the national conversation about prevention and equity.

But there is still work to do. Too many people remain unaware of their risk or lack access to timely screening and treatment. Stigma and fear continue to silence conversations about cervical health. Organizations like Cervivor are helping bridge those gaps by elevating survivor voices, promoting education, and partnering with health systems to ensure innovations reach those who need them most.

Q: What message would you share on this inaugural day?

Tamika: A future without HPV-related cancers looks like prevention in every community, equity in every policy, and hope in every story. It looks like the next generation growing up protected and informed. A world without cervical cancer means no more stories like mine—and that’s the legacy I want to leave behind.

Elimination is possible, but it will take continued investment, accountability, and survivor leadership. Those of us who have lived through cervical cancer know what’s at stake, and we’re committed to making sure no one else has to.

This collage features Cervivor community members from the U.S. and around the world, showcasing powerful patient advocacy and demonstrating what survivor leadership looks like in the fight to eliminate cervical cancer.

Dr. Bagudu: On this inaugural World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, my message is one of hope and urgency. Hope—because for the first time, we have the tools to end a cancer. Urgency—because every year of delay costs thousands of women’s lives, especially in Africa.

A future without HPV-related cancers is one where girls are routinely vaccinated, women have access to simple, affordable screening close to home, and treatment is available without stigma or financial hardship. It is a future where communities celebrate survivorship rather than mourn preventable loss.

To get there, governments must prioritize vaccination, screening, and treatment; global partners must ensure equitable access; and civil society—including the Medicaid Cancer Foundation—must continue raising awareness, supporting patients, and holding leaders accountable. Innovation, from self-collection for HPV testing to digital health tools, will also be key. 

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