Inspiration

It’s Time to Spark More Below the Belt Conversations

Cancer is a life disrupter that can test one’s physical, emotional, and mental strength to the brink. Those who have endured this relentless disease and emerged often feel called to do something more so others don’t have to go through the same thing. Sharing their story becomes an invaluable source of hope, inspiration, and surprisingly, healing. 

Anna, Communities of Color Retreat
Ashley, HPV Cancer Survivors School


This is the importance of sharing your story and sparking more below-the-belt conversations.

Breaking the Silence
Gynecologic cancer often carries with it a heavy stigma, and many patients and survivors initially find it challenging to talk openly about their diagnosis and treatment. However, sharing your story helps break the silence surrounding these cancers, making it a topic that is easier for others to learn and discuss. This shame resilience fosters a sense of community and support, as others facing similar challenges can relate to your experiences.

Providing Comfort and Hope
This journey can be a frightening and isolating time, both for patients and their loved ones. When you share your story, you offer comfort to those who are in the midst of their own experiences. Your insights provide them with hope and reassurance that they, too, can overcome this formidable adversary. 

Empowering Others
Your story can empower others to take control of their health. It can motivate individuals to prioritize regular check-ups, engage in healthier lifestyles, and advocate for themselves when it comes to their medical care. By sharing your journey, you become a beacon of strength and resilience that encourages others to take action.

Raising Awareness and Changing the World
Your story can contribute to increased awareness about the disease. By describing the symptoms you experienced, the importance of early detection, and the challenges you faced during treatment, you can help educate others about cancer prevention and the need for regular screenings and it can even improve the way the treatment is provided in the future. This knowledge can ultimately save lives.

Milicent & Sally making community connections in Kenya
Karla speaking to her Catholic school in Honduras


Sharing your cancer journey as a patient and survivor is a profoundly meaningful and impactful endeavor and can make a lasting difference in the lives of others. Cervivor encourages you to share your story today starting with our easy-to-follow template. It might be exactly what someone needs to hear to find the strength to face their own cancer battle with courage and determination.

Join us in our last Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month Below the Belt Conversations live on the Cervivor Facebook page on Thursday, September 21st starting at 7 PM EST!

This Too Shall Pass

This week is observed as National Minority Cancer Awareness Week and we’ll be highlighting Cervivor community members that identify within this population. Cervical cancer survivor and patient advocate, Tiera Wade shares the inspiration behind her journey with her small business.

“Traditionally, waist beads have been worn in West African culture for various reasons. Some of those reasons are adornment, accountability, spirituality, and honoring the power our wombs hold.

My reasons started to be intentional with expanding my family in hopes of having another child. As a small business owner, I started to incorporate this intentional art of making waist beads into my business. In that process, I connected with other women looking for healing, grounding, mindfulness, and acceptance.

When I found out I had cervical cancer all of the love, time, and intent, I soon felt betrayed. This womb that I was honoring and loving was now trying to kill me. I cut off every single one of those 28 strands and prepared for treatment.

Shortly after starting treatment, I received a package in the mail, and this package contained a strand from another maker across the country. My waist bead sister sent a note with her handmade strand, “This too shall pass.”

A few days later, I would receive another one and another. This continued throughout my treatments. When I was declared NED (no evidence of disease). I took those waist beads that were created in and with love and tied them on my waist. Each strand as gentle reminders that I’m loved and thanking my womb for a job well done, and she could rest.

Today, as a survivor, I use waist beads now to educate others. I share my why and Cervivors message. Telling them to prioritize themselves, love their bodies in the journey, and their health.”

Tiera Wade is a cervical cancer survivor and thriver turned patient advocate. She resides in the great state of Ohio and she is a small business owner and artisan designer of Set Trendz where she encourages others to be bold and be different.