Fueling Your Fight: How a Healthy Diet Can Improve Cervical Cancer Outcomes

March is National Nutrition Awareness Month, and Cervivor, Inc. is shining a light on the critical link between a healthy diet and improved outcomes for cervical cancer survivors. With an estimated 18 million individuals in the U.S. having a history of cancer in 2022 (Cancer Treatment & Survivorship Facts & Figures 2022-2024), understanding the role of nutrition in survivorship is more vital than ever.

As a cervical cancer survivor, you likely recognize the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle to reduce the risk of recurrence. One crucial aspect of this is a balanced diet, which can optimize your immune system, aid in eliminating human papillomavirus (HPV), and strengthen your body’s response to cancer. Research suggests that certain antioxidant nutrients and dietary patterns may help mitigate the impact of HPV, potentially reducing the risk of developing cervical cancer (Medical News Today). By making informed food choices, you can empower your body to fight against HPV and cervical cancer. Read along as we explore the connection between nutrition, the immune system, and inflammation, as well as actionable tips and resources for survivors to incorporate into their daily lives.

The Impact of Nutrition on Cervical Cancer Outcomes

Research has shown that a healthy diet can play a significant role in improving outcomes for cancer survivors. A well-balanced diet can:

  • Boost the immune system: A healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can help support the immune system, which is critical for fighting cancer.
  • Reduce inflammation: Chronic inflammation is a known risk factor for cancer recurrence. A diet high in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and fiber can help reduce inflammation and promote healing.
  • Support overall health: A healthy diet can help manage treatment side effects, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, and promote overall well-being.

Helpful Tips for a Healthy Diet

Incorporating healthy eating habits into your daily life can seem overwhelming sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some actionable tips to get you started:

  • Focus on whole foods: Prioritize whole, unprocessed foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help flush out toxins and support overall health.
  • Limit processed and sugary foods: Try to limit your intake of processed and sugary foods, which can be high in empty calories and low in essential nutrients.
  • Cook at home: Cooking at home allows you to control the ingredients and portion sizes of your meals, making it easier to make healthy choices.

Important Reminder: Remember to always consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian to develop a personalized nutrition plan that meets your unique needs and health goals.

Addressing Disparities in Access to Healthy Food

Unfortunately, access to healthy food is not equal for everyone. Food deserts, socioeconomic disparities, and lack of nutrition education can all create barriers to healthy eating. Many communities, particularly in low-income and rural areas, lack access to grocery stores and other retailers that sell healthy, affordable food. This can lead to a reliance on convenience stores and fast food restaurants, which often sell high-calorie, high-fat, and high-sodium foods that can exacerbate health problems. Furthermore, people with lower incomes may struggle to afford healthy food, which can be more expensive than processed and fast food. Without access to accurate and reliable nutrition information, people may not know how to make healthy food choices or prepare nutritious meals.

Resources to Check Out

  • Community gardens where residents can grow their own fruits and vegetables. These gardens not only provide access to fresh produce but also serve as community hubs where people can learn about nutrition and cooking.
  • Farmers’ markets offer fresh, locally sourced produce and often feature cooking demonstrations and nutrition education.
  • Food banks and pantries provide access to healthy food for those in need.
  • Some organizations or programs such as Feeding America or SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education) also offer nutrition education and cooking classes.

Nutrition Education and Resources Powered By Cervivor

At Cervivor, we’re committed to providing education and resources to support cancer survivors in their journey toward a healthier lifestyle after cancer. We believe that every survivor deserves access to accurate, reliable, and personalized information to help them navigate the challenges of cancer survivorship. Our mission is to empower survivors with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to thrive beyond cancer. Be sure to check out our:

Cervivor Podcast: In our latest episode of the Cervivor Podcast, we’re joined by Erin Pellegrin Registered Dietitian, Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist, and Senior Director of Culinary Nutrition and Education at Unite for HER, who shares her expertise on the intersection of nutrition and cancer care. From practical tips on healthy eating and hydration to guidance on supplements and addressing common dietary concerns, Erin empowers patients, survivors, and caregivers with valuable insights to nourish their way through cancer. Visit our website to see the full list of listening platforms.

Wellness Wednesday: Watch a special Wellness Wednesday Q&A with Patti Murillo Casa, Cervivor Wellness Advisor, and Morgan Newman, Community Engagement Liaison, to hear their connections to the cause, the history of Survivor Slimdown, and the program’s accomplishments so far.

Patti expresses, “In a survivorship community, health promotion is crucial for improving the well-being of survivors by addressing physical, mental, and social needs, and fostering a supportive environment that enhances quality of life and long-term health. Please join our Survivor Slimdown program.”

Survivor Slimdown is a private community program designed specifically for cancer survivors, providing monthly challenges, fit tips, and support to help you achieve your health goals in survivorship. 

Try a recipe from our cooking class with cervical cancer survivor, Tracy Citeroni!

Empowering to Thrive

Nutrition Awareness Month is an opportunity to feel empowerment and hope. By prioritizing a healthy diet and lifestyle, you can take control of your health and well-being, reducing the risk of cancer recurrence and promoting overall wellness. Remember, every small step counts, and making healthy choices is a journey, not a destination. 

So, take the first step today. Join our community, explore our resources, and start fueling your fight against cancer. Let’s empower every survivor to thrive beyond their diagnosis!

Black Communities and Cervical Cancer: Breaking the Silence for a Healthier Future

Cervical cancer affects thousands of women in the United States each year, hitting Black communities particularly hard. Of the estimated 13,360 new cases in 2025, the American Cancer Society projects 2,180 will be in Black women, with 610 deaths – a higher incidence rate than their share of the general population. Black women are 19% more likely to develop cervical cancer and nearly 65% more likely to die from it than white women. Systemic health disparities, medical mistrust, and cultural barriers both create and widen this gap. 

While other groups – such as Indigenous women, Latinas, and LGBTQ+ individuals – face similar challenges, Black women experience them at disproportionately higher rates. Kimberly Williams knows this firsthand. 

Kimberly’s Story

A headshot of Kimberly Williams, who has long black hair and is wearing a teal turtleneck sweater. She looks directly at the camera with a slight smile.
Kimberly Williams

“I had never heard of cervical cancer before. I thought I was the only person in the world with it,” recalls the Houston mother of two, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in February 2018 after visiting a doctor for irregular menstrual cycles in late 2017. She felt blindsided, like many who receive a late-stage diagnosis – a trend that is on the rise, with Black women having the highest number of these cases.

Kimberly was taught to keep family matters private, especially health issues. “Growing up, my mother would say, ‘What goes on in the house stays in the house.'” But staying silent only made her feel more isolated.

After a radical hysterectomy in March, her surgeon informed her that all of the cancer wasn’t gone and she would need radiation and chemotherapy. When her insurance repeatedly denied PET scan authorization – an imaging test crucial for assessing her condition – she became discouraged.  “After a couple of months, I thought, ‘Forget it. I’m fine. I’m healed,’” she shares in this new CervivorTV video.


But she wasn’t fine. A recurrence in 2019 forced Kimberly to undergo treatment. Her oncologist’s dismissive approach almost made her walk away again.

“She just said, ‘You’re starting chemo tomorrow,’ without explaining anything. I had to say, ‘Talk to me like I’ve never had cancer before,’” says Kimberly, who holds a master’s degree and has been a social services worker for over 20 years. “Some people would stop their treatment right there. Not being respected enough to have things explained properly is a major barrier to care.” 

Fortunately, Kimberly’s story has a happy ending. Now cancer-free, she is committed to speaking out to help others avoid the struggles she faced.

“As a Black woman, I realized that other Black people listen to other Black people. That’s just how it is,” says Kimberly, who now serves as the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) Officer at Cervivor, Inc. and was recently named to the Steering Committee of the American Cancer Society National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer. “I had to make the hard decision to share my story.” 

‘Holes’ in the Healthcare System

Kimberly’s experience underscores the need for shared stories to drive change in cervical cancer outcomes. Yet, significant healthcare disparities and barriers to care persist. 

Despite recent reports that some public health officials are being discouraged from using terms like “health equity” and “disparities,” Cervivor Founder and Chief Visionary Tamika Felder warns against brushing aside the research fueling life-saving progress. “Health equity is more important than ever. Ignoring the reasons behind disparities only makes the gaps wider,” says Tamika, a member of the National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB) and co-chair of the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable. “We know where the inequities exist and why. Trying to erase or undermine the incredible work being done to close these gaps is deeply troubling. If we continue down this path, it will be even harder to repair.”


Dr. Lynn Richards McDonald, Clinical Program Director for cervical cancer screening at Johns Hopkins Hospital, is a leading expert on health equity. She has dedicated her career to advancing it through advocacy, collaboration, and community outreach. Dr. McDonald identifies critical “holes” in the healthcare system that contribute to higher cervical cancer mortality rates in the Black community: “These ‘holes’ – cost, lack of knowledge, embarrassment, clinical bias, cultural differences, and fear – prevent timely screenings and treatment,” explains Dr. McDonald, who spoke about strategies for inclusive cervical cancer care at last month’s Cervical Cancer Summit Powered by Cervivor, Inc.

Key Disparities in Diagnosis and Treatment

One striking paradox: Although Black women have higher rates of initial Pap testing (64% in the past two years compared to 59% of white women, 60% of Hispanic women, and 57% of Asian women), they still face disproportionately high cervical cancer rates. This disparity is largely due to lower follow-up rates after abnormal Pap results and later-stage diagnoses. A 2020 systematic review of 34 studies involving over 1.2 million patients found that even a three-week delay in cancer treatment, including cervical cancer, significantly impacts survival rates.

Dr. Andrea Stubbs, Administrative Director for the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program, emphasizes how poor communication by medical professionals can affect follow-up after an abnormal Pap or positive HPV test: “Patients of color often receive vague explanations, like ‘dirty cells’ or ‘a little virus,’ which downplay the urgency of follow-up. For many, missing work for appointments means losing money, adding another layer of difficulty.” 

Julia Brown, MPH, and Andrea Stubbs, MPA, of St. Jude accept the Cervivor Champion Award for their dedication and contributions to ending cervical cancer.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital recently received the Cervivor Champion Award for its dedication to ending cervical cancer. Dr. Andrea Stubbs (on the right) and Julia Brown accept the award on behalf of the organization at the 2025 Summit.

Where people live and insurance coverage affect outcomes, too. In 2022, Human Rights Watch reported that rural Black women face a cervical cancer rate nearly 50% higher than rural white women and are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages with lower survival rates. A 2023 study also confirmed that Black women have 18% higher odds of receiving a advanced-stage diagnosis compared to white women, largely due to health insurance access. 

When it comes to enrollment in cutting-edge clinical trials, the gap is even wider – less than 5% of participants are Black, limiting how applicable the results are to diverse populations. Barriers such as travel distance to research centers and a lack of transparency in trial processes add to this underrepresentation.

“Many Black women hesitate to participate in clinical trials due to distrust of the medical community,” explains Tiffany Drummond, a clinical research expert who spoke on the topic at the recent Summit. “Patients are smart, but they don’t know what they don’t know until the research and data are shared with them. Why can’t that information be shared?”


Cervivor Ambassador Gwendolyn “Gwen” Jackson, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cervical cancer in 2020, credits clinical trials for extending her life. “I’m still alive because of clinical trials,” says the Texas grandmother of three. However, she initially had concerns about participating: “In the African-American community, there’s a deep-rooted distrust of clinical trials,” she shared with The Patient Story last December. “It goes back to when they were using African Americans for experiments and really being the ‘guinea pigs.’”

Medical Mistrust: A Barrier Rooted in History

Gwen’s insight on the roots of medical mistrust in the Black community is spot-on. As Dr. Wendy Kline shares in the latest Cervivor Podcast about her new book Exposed: The Hidden History of the Pelvic Exam, the gynecological abuse of Black women in America dates back over 200 years. It began with James Marion Sims, often called the “father of modern gynecology,” and has persisted through generations.

“The origins of gynecology date back to the 19th century with the invention of the speculum,” Dr. Kline, a Historian of Medicine at Purdue University, explains, referring to the familiar tool used for pelvic exams. “Sims built gynecology on the bodies of enslaved women, three of whom underwent multiple procedures without anesthesia. These non-consensual experiments perfected techniques that defined the field, raising ongoing questions about consent and ethical treatment.” She adds, “Although not every gynecologist is abusive, the history is inherently problematic.” (Read more about the three enslaved women – Anarcha, Betsy, and Lucy – and what they endured in the name of “science” in this powerful retelling by Women & the American Story.)


Another example is Henrietta Lacks, a now-celebrated Black woman who sought treatment at Johns Hopkins in 1951 for abnormal vaginal bleeding. A tobacco farmer and mother of five, she was admitted to the “colored ward,” as a recent St. Jude Research article recounts. After eight months of radiation treatment, Henrietta died at 31, but her cancer cells were taken without consent, leading to the development of HeLa cells that advanced cervical cancer research. (To learn more about Henrietta’s impact on medical ethics, check out last month’s Cervivor Podcast with her great-granddaughter, Veronica Robinson, and Johns Hopkins’ Dr. McDonald.)

The article summarizes, “The medical mistrust generated by historical mistreatments has been passed down over time. Avoiding regular gynecological care makes Black women more likely to be diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer, decreasing survival.”

Breaking the Cycle: How Awareness Can Save Lives

St. Jude highlights another critical factor contributing to higher cervical cancer mortality rates among Black women: lack of awareness about the human papillomavirus (HPV) and the HPV vaccine, in particular. Data from the Office of Minority Health (OMH) indicates that in 2022, non-Hispanic Black females aged 19 to 26 were 20% less likely to have ever received an HPV vaccine than non-Hispanic white females in the same age group.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that vaccine uptake among all children is still quite low, with only 38.6% of children aged 9 to 17 receiving at least one dose in 2022. While there is no significant statistical difference between Black and white children, health insurance status is a key factor. A February 2024 CDC report found that children with private health insurance (41.5%) were most likely to have received one or more HPV vaccine doses, compared with children with Medicaid coverage (37.0%), other government coverage (30.2%), and those without insurance (20.7%). Despite initial gains in coverage from the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Black people remain 1.5 times more likely to be uninsured than white people, according to a February 2025 report looking at health coverage by race and ethnicity between 2010 and 2023.


But awareness and access aren’t the only barriers. As with avoiding gynecological check-ups or low participation in clinical trials, medical mistrust contributes to some Black parents’ hesitancy or refusal to vaccinate their children against HPV. A 2023 Journal of Pediatric Health Care study led by Ariel Washington, Ph.D., MSSW, of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute found that concerns ranged from vaccine safety to the recommended age, noting that, “Some believed their children were being offered the vaccine at a younger age than most because the health care provider believed the child would become sexually active earlier.” 

In an article about the study on the cancer institute’s website, Dr. Washington shared, “One recurring theme was that parents often felt unheard and unable to ask questions about HPV vaccination.” The study reinforces St. Jude’s recommendation that clear, direct communication from healthcare providers is key to increasing vaccination rates in Black communities.

For Black cervical cancer survivors like Kimberly, who remembers not knowing anything about HPV or cervical cancer when she was diagnosed, spreading awareness in the Black community is imperative. “I realized I had to make sure others knew about the resources out there to prevent cervical cancer: screening and vaccination. By keeping quiet, we risk lives.”

If you feel unheard by your medical providers, Gwen offers this advice: “When you go to the doctor’s office, they are working for you. You are not working for them. So, it’s okay to use your voice. If something feels wrong, speak up. If there’s a treatment you don’t want, say that.”

Find Your Community and Take Action

Most importantly, you don’t have to go through this alone. For many, finding community is life-changing. Kimberly describes discovering Cervivor as a turning point in her recovery. Gwen was surprised by the sense of solidarity she found: “I thought it was just Black women who went through this. But now, being in the teal-and-white community, the Cervivor community, we chat with each other. It’s all of us, as women.”

Cancer survivor Bikira Radcliffe, who founded United Colors of Cancer in 2020 to ensure optimal cancer care for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), also highlights the growing role of faith-based organizations in supporting mental health and cancer care in communities of color. “In Black and Brown communities, mental health is only now becoming a common discussion,” she shared during a panel at the Summit. “Many people turn to churches and similar institutions for support, and we’re seeing these organizations begin integrating cancer care and mental health resources into their missions.”

Esra Urkmez Uzel, Lilly Stairs, and Bikira Radcliffe speak on a panel about patient advocacy and cancer burnout prevention at the 2025 Cervical Cancer Summit. Bikira, wearing a bright pink shirt and matching head wrap, is seated on the left.
From left, Esra Urkmez Uzel, Lilly Stairs, and Bikira Radcliffe discuss patient advocacy and preventing cancer burnout at the 2025 Summit.

Ultimately, the story of cervical cancer in the Black community isn’t just about statistics – it’s about lived experiences that highlight the urgent need for change. At Cervivor, we are committed to ending cervical cancer through:

  • Education: Providing accurate, accessible information on HPV, cervical cancer risks, and the importance of regular screenings.
  • Advocacy: Amplifying voices to break the stigma and silence surrounding these issues.
  • Empowerment: Encouraging individuals to take charge of their health by advocating for themselves, asking questions, and demanding timely, respectful care.

Consider these ways to connect with other Black cervical cancer patients and survivors through Cervivor:

Cervivor community members of color, wearing Cervivor Cares shirts, smile together at the 2024 Communities of Color Retreat in Cleveland, OH. Tamika Felder has her arm around Gwen Jackson.
Participants at Cervivor’s 2024 Communities of Color Retreat in Cleveland, OH.
  • Communities of Color Retreat – A training to support and empower individuals from diverse communities who have been impacted by cervical cancer, the retreat aims to provide a platform for sharing experiences, connecting with others, and promoting health equity and awareness about cervical cancer. Learn more about the most recent retreat.
  • Cervivor Noir – A private group reserved for cervical cancer patients and survivors who identify as African American or Black. Join today and connect with others in the community!
  • Black Cervix Chat – An event that aims to bridge gaps in healthcare access and provide a supportive space for discussions related to cervical health, screenings, and general well-being for those in the Black community. Watch now on CervivorTV!
  • Cervivor Stories – Visit the Cervivor website to read the testimonies of others impacted by cervical cancer and share your story with an easy-to-follow template. 

By advocating for awareness, equitable healthcare, and open conversations, the Black community can break the silence and move toward a healthier cervical-cancer-free future.