Making My Survivorship Count

Coretta Scott King once said, “The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.  Now, imagine a community built brick-by-brick by the survivors of trauma; a cancer diagnosis. 

When we look around, we see many familiar support groups and organizations. Even if we’re not personally affected, we understand that these are tiny communities ready to support individuals with similar afflictions. 

Then, there are patients and survivors who are devastated by a cervical cancer diagnosis and, when they emerge from the darkness of life-altering surgeries and brutal treatments, they are hard-pressed to find that beacon that heralds them to the arms of other cervical cancer survivors.

What if there was a community of open arms that also provided you with the voice and the feet with which to make your survivorship count? To make a difference so that others are imbued with knowledge and the inner permission to self-advocate. Fortunately, an organization like that exists in Cervivor

Although my staged cancer story began five years ago, my attempts to prevent that cancer began 26 years prior when I was treated for high-grade pre-cancerous cells. Unfortunately, at the time, there wasn’t a lot of information out there about cervical cancer, other than this cancer is related to HPV. I was 46 when I found out that something I’d dealt with as a young woman was back to seriously try to end my life. 

It wasn’t just about letting people know about their Pap tests anymore, it was also about dispelling the stigma that came along with a below-the-belt cancer. As advanced as our society is, we still, in some ways, carry provincial attitudes and morays regarding the female reproductive system. My goal after coming out of treatment and finding a more distinct voice was to educate not only my local community about cervical cancer, but also to break down barriers. These stigmas can lend a hand in the disproportionate amount of needless suffering due to this cancer.

Lorie at Cervivor School Nashville

My advocacy is a calling that I feel obligated to answer. In these last five years, I’ve met with people one-on-one, in groups, and online to facilitate educational forums on HPV, cervical cancer, and preventative testing. I’ve held fundraisers and donated my time to research organizations. I serve as a cancer mentor for the newly diagnosed to help them in their journeys with cancer. These mentees seek guidance from established patients who’ve been through it all. They are matched with mentors who closely align with their needs. During this mentorship, the mentee feels informed, supported, and more at ease with their treatment modality. 

Along with mentorship, I also share my story through multiple social media platforms. I have shared my cancer experience with several cancer centers to provide a patient perspective for the oncology professionals and to provide hope for the oncology patients who see my videos and read my story.

As a Cervivor, my active intention is to broaden the reach of my voice by advocating about the HPV vaccine because, ultimately, we could eradicate HPV-related cancers through vaccination. I love that our Cervivor community aligns with my passion to reach as many people as possible. We do so, not only with compassion and kindness, but also by lending strength. 

I am but one person and I have a story. Together, we are a village and our stories are powerful.

Lorie Wallace is a five-year cervical cancer survivor and recent Cervivor School graduate. She has dedicated her life to cancer advocacy and support by facilitating community education forums on cervical cancer and HPV awareness. Lorie also serves as a cancer patient mentor for the newly diagnosed and for caregivers of cancer patients. She is a fur mom and a wife, who enjoys painting, music, and is a lifetime student of history.

Let’s Talk About Below-the-Belt Cancers

When the calendar turns to September, it’s a good reason for anyone touched by gynecological cancer to share their story because September is Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month (GCAM).

For those of us in the Cervivor community, September is a significant opportunity to pull out our advocacy boots (and dust them off if they haven’t been used in a while), put below-the-belt cancers in the spotlight, and pick up our momentum to carry us through the remainder of the year. 

Why is GCAM so important?

  • Late-stage cervical cancer is being diagnosed at higher rates in the United States. Historically, cervical cancer has disproportionately impacted Black and Hispanic women. In this study, the overall prevalence of the disease was higher in Black women and there is a large increase in diagnoses for Non-Hispanic White women (CNN).
  • Uterine cancers are on the rise, especially in Black women. It is quickly making its way to becoming the third most common type of cancer among women (NY Times).
  • Fertility and quality of life are still impacting those diagnosed with gynecologic cancers (Oncology Nurse Advisor).
  • Intersectionalities in sexual orientation as well as race and ethnicity show significantly lower odds of undergoing routine cervical cancer screenings (Health Day).
  • Reducing social detriments can improve quality of life, increase survival rates, and close the gap in racial disparities (ASCO Post).

We know there are so many more to list which is why Cervivor continues to be actively engaged in gynecologic cancer awareness. We’re committed to sharing our stories, spreading awareness, and showing the people impacted by gynecologic cancers. We’re facing these disparities head-on!

How can you get involved this GCAM?

  • Share Cervivor content during GCAM. We will have plenty of graphics, articles, and other resources to share with your social media network, across all platforms. Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest.
  • Wear Teal and White on #TealandWhiteTuesday. Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram and post your photos in the comment of our Facebook posts!

  • Share your Cervivor Story. Have you shared your story with us on Cervivor.org? Sharing your story on our site is a powerful tool for getting your story out there. Our template guides you with questions, to help you share your cervical cancer story in a way that is personal to you. You can share as little or as much as you like. Once you have submitted your story and it is published, you will be able to share the link with others. Need help getting started? Send us an email at [email protected]!

  • Contact local media to share your Cervivor story. Many times, local news stations, newspapers, and neighborhood publications are looking for content. Reach out to them and share your story. If your story is on Cervivor.org, share the link with them when you reach out.

  • Host a Cervivor Meet-Up. Meet-Ups are local gatherings of Cervivors, networking and sharing in a social environment. You can hold a Cervivor Meet-Up in a coffee shop, restaurant, bar, or anywhere you feel is a welcoming and relaxed place for Cervivors to talk and share. If you’re interested in hosting a Cervivor Meet-Up in your area, contact us at [email protected]. *Cervivor recommends following the latest CDC recommendations for any gatherings.*

  • Become a Partner in Purpose. From care team to community member, your role in cervical cancer awareness, treatment, support, and prevention is of the utmost importance to us. Interested? Sign up here.

  • Donate to Cervivor or host a fundraiser on behalf of Cervivor.

We look forward to a successful GCAM and can’t wait to see how our Cervivor Community comes together to bring awareness to gynecologic cancers!