Support Group

From Advocacy to Support

We believe that patient advocacy is the catalyst for meaningful change in the mission to end cervical cancer. That’s why we’ve dedicated ourselves to training and amplifying the voices of patients and survivors, ensuring that their unique perspectives shape the narrative and inform decision-making. By centering the patient perspective – both individually and collectively – we’re creating a powerful community voice that demands attention, sparks action, and drives progress. 

Through our advocacy efforts, we’re not just reacting to the status quo; we’re actively creating the change we want to see – a world where cervical cancer is detected early, treated with dignity and compassion, and prevented. By elevating the patient voice, we’re rewriting the story of cervical cancer and paving the way for a brighter future for generations to come.

As July, our self-proclaimed Patient Advocacy Month comes to a close, we are proud of our progress in amplifying the voices of cervical cancer patients and survivors. Our small team of dedicated cervical cancer survivors and vast global community of passionate volunteers has worked tirelessly to raise awareness, educate, and advocate for policy changes that benefit our community.

But our work continues. 

We want to emphasize that every story matters in our mission to end cervical cancer. We know that each person’s experience with cervical cancer is unique, and we’re committed to providing a safe space for sharing those stories. Our support programming empowers survivors and patients to take control of their health, connect with others who understand their journey, and find resources and information to navigate the complex healthcare system. 

What We Offer

  • Online Support Groups: A safe space to connect with others who share similar experiences.
  • Mentorship: Pairing patients with trained survivors who can offer guidance and support.
  • Educational Resources: Accurate and reliable information on cervical cancer diagnosis, treatment, and beyond.
  • Community Events: Opportunities to connect in person and build a supportive community.

As we launch into highlighting our support programming, we invite you to join us. Share your story, connect with others, find the support you need, and be a crucial part of the community. Together, we can create a world where no one feels alone in their journey and cervical cancer will be a thing of the past.

Get Involved

  • Follow Us: On social media to stay up-to-date on our support programming and community events.
  • Share: Your story and inspire others to do the same.
  • Sign Up: Are you a provider or community support person? Become a Partner in Purpose.
  • Donate: Support our mission and help us continue to provide vital resources and support to our community

We’re reminded that the journey to healing and wholeness is not a solitary one. Creating connections with others who understand our struggles is the foundation upon which we build resilience. Access to trusted resources empowers us to take control of our health and well-being. And it’s the undeniable sense of community – the feeling of being seen, heard, and supported – that accelerates our healing. 

At Cervivor, Inc., we believe that these elements are the pillars of a supportive ecosystem that cultivates hope, facilitates growth, and transforms patients and survivors into thrivers. Join us in cultivating this community, and we’ll rise stronger, more united, and more determined than ever to overcome the challenges of cervical cancer.

The Gift of Creating Connections

My name is Jodi Madsen. I am an active cervical cancer patient, in both treatment and spreading awareness about the importance of women’s health and HPV. I was diagnosed with stage 3C2R adenosquamous cell carcinoma of the cervix in February of 2021. I live in North Dakota with my husband, who serves in the United States Air Force, and our two little boys. North Dakota isn’t really your prime real estate for any medical specialty, so if you’re going to go looking for gynecologic anything, you’d have the same amount of luck finding oceanfront property outside their practice. I travel ten hours to Omaha, NE for every single appointment since there are no qualified persons within a reasonable range. My insurance had some input on that decision and actually was kind enough to make it for me! While I love my care institute, I am sad to miss out on living closer to women in similar situations and being able to participate in support groups. 

From the beginning of a cancer diagnosis, there is one word that has always lingered close by. Lonely. I think the bottom line of that comes down to knowing I can’t convey my feelings correctly to those I love and that is incredibly isolating and frustrating. There are so many things that instantly change when you become the patient that you don’t even realize. In an effort to de-alienate myself I started a blog. I started it for many reasons, the biggest was to hold the connection with my friends and family, as well as nurture new connections and share with women unfortunate to be met with the same diagnosis should they run across it in the future. That blog gave me a spark and was always something for me to do to pull me out of the gallows. Believe it or not, even the most annoyingly chipper of us end up down there quite often. I haven’t written much lately and the “Oscar” radiating off me is uncanny. 

One day last fall, I was scrolling Facebook in a large cervical cancer support group, and I saw someone asking for help with writing blogs for CCAM (Cervical Cancer Awareness Month) for a smaller organization. Nervously, I mentioned that I have been writing blogs about my experience. I liked the organization’s page, joined the private group, and began freaking out. Who do I think I am, thinking I can use this voice? Until I saw the community I just stepped into. Each question is answered with care and love no matter the nature. Every single woman is encouraged to share their stories. Not a writer? They have prompts ready! I was so happy seeing the patient being the center light here and what looked like genuine friendships showing up all over the place. What is this wonderful island offering me so much hope after less than ten minutes of interaction?! Cervivor! 

Not long after these first few interactions, a day came along with an event called, Creating Connections. It was a Zoom meet-up with a speaker and two Cervivor Ambassadors acting as moderators to keep the conversation loosely based on parenting with cervical cancer. It was my first interaction of the sort that was like a support group and it was wonderful! There were about 15 women present and after we took turns giving small introductions to our stories, we were able to listen to some wonderful pointers on how to explain things to our little kiddos regarding treatment, medications, time away from home, and other key confusing factors for them. 

That night I met a pal, Caroline. Caroline stood out because she has little children too, and lives near where my husband is from. Just like that, with a two-second snippet of her introduction, I knew I had found a person to meet in real life when I am in that area. Because I joined that online meet-up last October, I now have a friend to show me a new coffee shop and get away from the family for a bit when I join my in-laws for a week. How cool! Let’s add this to the list of incredible feelings I get from being a part of the Cervivor community. The power I feel that I have gained from the support of both the Cervivor organization and the Cervivors themselves is insurmountable! Talk about a boost!

As time has passed and treatments have come and gone, I have become less active in both my own blog and posting in support of Cervivor. Many reasons have contributed to my absence, but because of the family environment, I can always hop back in like I never left. Much like I did a few weeks ago when attending another Creating Connections. I was on the road, so I had to be muted for most of it, but getting to listen to my friends brought in a brightness I needed so deeply in my soul. What I didn’t know I was needing, as a cherry on top, was the number of attendees waiting to introduce themselves to the rest of us. Several of the Creating Connections meet-ups I have been to have been about the same 12-20 people in attendance. We are able to make deeper connections and learn much more about each other when it is the same smaller group of us, but there is an absence of diversity. 

So when I logged on to see nearly 30 women in attendance, I was in shock! (And also a little curious about how long it would take us to get through introductions! Ha!) There were women with brand new diagnoses and women who have been a patient for months and had just found Cervivor. In every case, each new introduction tugged on and successfully pulled some tears. Where I was nearly a year ago, here these women are fulfilling what I had dreamed for the reach of Cervivor. I have wanted to see more women finding this incredible group sooner in their journeys, and it was happening right before my eyes. Every time I thought about these beautiful women that came off so incredibly strong right out of the gate, the tears overtook my hard-shelled heart. 

I know how hard everyone in the Cervivor community works behind the scenes, and it’s amazing the amount of things you see put together. The number of things they are constantly working on would blow your mind. To be associated with these hard-working ladies is an honor, and to be able to recognize the growth of the group is so cool! I’m not sure if it is success that you can measure by attendance and participation, but it sure feels like it. Thank you, Cervivor, for giving me another home that just fits, and the opportunity to see the growth and success, as well as take pride in such an incredible organization. You help me live through so many seasons, and with this one, I am beaming with pride.

Jodi is the recipient of Cervivor’s 2022 Brittany Wagner Social Media Advocacy Award and is a passionate advocate. She shares the highs and lows of living with cervical cancer and brings light to our community.