life after cancer

Experiencing Cervivor School as a Cervivor Follower

Two years ago, I was reading an article during Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, about Tamika Felder and her organization Cervivor. I could not believe there was an entire group dedicated to cervical cancer awareness! I followed the link to Cervivor.org and read story after story of women like me. Women who’s bodies and lives had been forever changed.

As I read through the site, I saw something called Cervivor School: “A live event for anyone looking to become more involved in the cervical cancer movement”. This sounded perfect for me – I was already talking none stop about my cervical cancer, why not find out how I could make a difference. I happily submitted my Cervivor story and I was determined to get myself to the next Cervivor School.

About two months later, I received an email that Tamika was going to be at an event in San Francisco and would I be interested in attending as a Cervivor. I jumped at the chance to meet other Cervivors’ in my area, as well as meet Tamika herself. Along with Tamika, I met fellow Cervivors Cindy and Curtissa. Our stories shared similar threads and we seemed to have the same desire to change the perception of cervical cancer.

That event lead to another amazing event, Stirrup Stories. I saw firsthand Cervivor’s impact in the community. The outreach Cervivor does to educate and bring awareness to a cancer that gets very little positive acknowledgment. Fourteen of us shared our very personal stories. We shared with the audience that HPV and cervical cancer has a diverse voice, and the tears and cheers filled the theater that night.

Having been a part of Stirrup Stories, I knew that Cervivor School would be just as powerful. But I would have to wait a year before I could get to a Cervivor School. When I finally packed my bags and headed to Delray Beach, Florida for Cervivor School 2017, I was jazzed to finally be a part of this experience. I was really feeling like a Cervivor.

I got to meet women who I’d connected with through social media. Women who’s stories I knew and that were so similar to mine, that I found myself at ease almost immediately. We sat together in a conference room for four days, creatively writing, getting artistic, listening to impactful speakers and learning how we can take our HPV and cancer stories to the next level. Oh and the laughter! As a cancer patient and survivor, it isn’t always easy to laugh, especially at our cancer but Cervivor School is a safe, non-judgemental environment where we could just be ourselves.

After Cervivor School, I have refined my story and my purpose. I now have resources to support my HPV and cervical cancer advocacy as I reach out to my community. Like my Cervivor sisters, we want to be the last generation to face HPV and cervical cancer. We want our stories to matter. We want our Cervivorship to be impactful.

Apply to attend our upcoming 2018 Cervivor School here. Read more about my story here.

Never In My Wildest Dreams

The day is almost over here on the East coast, but there is no way that I could let this day (January 25th) end with acknowledging how special it is to me and so many others out there. 13 years ago today, Cervivor was founded (as Tamika and Friends, Inc.). This organization was founded out of my own cervical cancer diagnosis 16 years ago. My experience with cervical cancer not only changed my life but also, everyone around me. I made a promise that if I survived this experience that I would make my survivorship count. I honor that promise with every single breath I take.

WNBA Champions Cause to Eliminate Cervical Cancer 2005

When I created this organization I had no idea that January was Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, or that teal and white were the official colors for cervical cancer — there was a lot of orange!

All I knew is that I wanted to make a difference in the lives of others. I didn’t know how or where to start. I just knew that I had to do something.

Washington Post 2011

As most nonprofits, we started small — very grassroots. Sometimes I sit back and think of our first official meeting  — the binders that I created with orange butterfly stickers. They were hideous, but filled with an action plan that has brought us to where we are today. I sit and think of all of the things we’ve done since then, and it just seems surreal.

NYC Walk 2011

We held so many events over the years, but what I’m most proud of is the community that we’ve created. A community of not just women diagnosed with cervical cancer, but a community filled with caregivers, clinicians, researchers, health educations, social workers and so much more. I am proud of the industry partnerships and their support of our much-needed work. A lot of work that goes unseen, but is felt around the globe.

Our first Cervivor School January 25, 2014 NYC

Today also marks 4 years since we launched Cervivor School — our advocacy training retreats. We’ve had over 100 women graduate from our Cervivor Schools. This unique event is the leading advocacy training for women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the country. Our Cervivor School speakers are some of the most sought-after experts in the cervical cancer space. Our graduates are some of the most requested cervical cancer patient advocates.

This year will mark the return of some of our original programs and events (hello Stirrup Stories!), as well as new campaigns (I can’t wait for the big reveal!). We’ll continue providing our community with support and the latest news and updates. Our work has afforded us a seat at the table, and we are thankful for that. We’ve worked hard for that.

First global advocacy trip. Beijing, China 2011

My promise to you, our community is that we will continue to be an expert in the field of patient advocacy. We’re not going anywhere! Not while there are still women not being screened. Not while the HPV vaccine is still underutilized. Not while the stigma of HPV exists. Not while women feel alone. Not while women are losing their fertility, and not while women are still dying. There is way too much work for us to still do. I’m more determined than ever. I know you are, too! You’ve shown it this month alone.

Thank you for your continued support — however small or large. Thank you for helping us spread our Cervivor footprint. Thank you for helping us end cervical cancer. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that we would be here. But, here we are 13 years later, dedicated to what we started, still doing what we said we would do  – working to end cervical cancer. It hasn’t been easy, but neither was cancer.

xo Tamika                                                                                                                                                                                                                     16-year cervical cancer survivor AKA Cervivor                                                                                                                                          Founder, Cervivor. org

Apply to attend our upcoming Cervivor School here.