Happy New Year and Happy Cervical Cancer Awareness Month from Cervivor Inc!

Join us in welcoming a new year, we at Cervivor Inc. are excited to kick off Cervical Cancer Awareness Month!

This month is especially significant for us as we celebrate a major milestone: 20 years of advocacy, awareness, and support.

Celebrating 20 Years of Cervivor: A Journey of Advocacy, Awareness, and Support

Over the past two decades, Cervivor Inc. has been dedicated to making a difference in the lives of cervical cancer survivors, patients, and their loved ones.

Our organization has come a long way since its inception, and we’re proud of the strides we’ve made in:

Advocacy
We’ve worked tirelessly to raise awareness about cervical cancer, its prevention, and the importance of screening and vaccination. Our advocacy efforts have helped shape policies and programs that support cervical cancer prevention and treatment.
(Photo: Cervical Cancer Day on the Hill)

Education
We’ve developed and disseminated educational resources, including retreats, webinars, and online and printed materials, to empower individuals with knowledge about cervical cancer, its risks, and its management.
(Photo: Cervivor School 2023, Seattle, WA)

Community-Building
We’ve created a supportive community of cervical cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones, providing a safe space for sharing experiences, asking questions, and finding comfort in the company of others who understand the journey.
(Photo: Communities of Color Retreat, Cleveland, OH)

Follow along throughout the month to learn more about the organization’s history, accomplishments, and what we plan on doing next! 

Take Action This Month

As we celebrate Cervical Cancer Awareness Month and our 20-year anniversary, we invite you to join us in taking action!

  • Share Your Story: We want to hear from you! Share your personal experience with cervical cancer, whether you’re a survivor, a caregiver, or a loved one. Your story can help inspire and educate others. Submit your story through our website.
  • Spread Awareness: Join the conversation by utilizing our co-branded social media toolkit and include hashtags #CervivorTurns20, #CervicalCancer, and #Cervivor.
  • Attend Cervivor Events: There’s something for everyone! Join us at one or all of our specially curated events to connect with others and grow the community!
  • Give Back: Sign up to host your own fundraiser or product drive to benefit Cervivor or donate personally to further drive our mission of educating and empowering individuals impacted by cervical cancer!


Together, let’s continue to raise awareness, support one another, and work towards a cervical cancer-free future.

Happy New Year and thank you for being part of the Cervivor community!

Embracing Fearlessness After a Cervical Cancer Diagnosis

Life often takes unexpected turns, and sometimes these twists reveal a sense of fearlessness we never knew we had. For many in the Cervivor community, this unexpected resilience and strength begins with one of the scariest challenges to confront: a cervical cancer diagnosis. The experience forces us to confront our deepest fears – which some of our Cervivors share below – and find the courage that changes our lives forever.

The Diagnosis

Receiving a cervical cancer diagnosis shakes your world. Fear of the unknown, anxiety about treatment, and worries about the future overwhelm your mind. Initially, many of us feel powerless against this invasive disease. The thought of surgery, chemotherapy, and the potential long-term effects are daunting. 

But let Julie Groob, a survivor who volunteers with Cervivor and attended the 2024 Cervical Cancer Summit, explain how the cervical cancer diagnosis was for her:  

“It’s weird to be relieved to hear the words, “You have cancer,” but that was my reaction. After eight years of recurrent cervical dysplasia, finally, the world of cancer support and services was open to me. Those eight years were lonely, but with a cervical cancer diagnosis, I found the Cervivor community as well as cervical cancer patient advocacy and purpose. Cervivor connected me with women on a very similar journey, who embraced me completely. By meeting them in person, I connected with them beyond our shared cancer diagnosis. Cervivor taught me that my voice, my humor, just being me, and sharing my story could change and save lives. Cancer let me in on a little secret, life is precious, so live life fiercely and joyfully, always.” 

Discovering Cervivor, Inc.

Like Julie, other Cervivor community members often find solace in shared experiences and strength in unity, from attending our monthly virtual cervical cancer support group, Creating Connections, to attending live events like the Cervical Cancer Summit, Communities of Color Retreat, and the premiere cervical cancer patient advocacy training program, Cervivor School. (Read about the recent Cervivor School Minneapolis, which marked the 10th year of the unique program.) 

Here’s how Sara Johney, who graduated from the aforementioned Cervivor School, found her way to Cervivor’s cervical cancer support organization: 

“It was early in my cancer journey, just around the time I was diagnosed, when I found Cervivor. As I developed recurrences and challenges, I never knew how much I would come to depend on my Cervivor sisters. The strength and resilience I learned from these women have helped me in the last few years and even today. I know I will not go down without a fight and anything is possible with God, my family, and the Cervivor community.” 

Empowerment Through Community

Through Cervivor, Inc., many in our community members discover that fearlessness is not about the absence of fear but the courage to act in spite of it. By participating in cervical cancer awareness campaigns, advocacy, and support groups, our members often transform their fear into fuel for change.

Gwendolyn Jackson, who was recently given the Erica Frazier Stum Living Life with Cancer Award and is currently going through cervical cancer treatment, shares: 

“I was looking for a support group for cervical cancer and when I did a Google search, Cervivor came up. Since then, Cervivor has taught me that my story matters and the true definition of advocating for myself and others. I am living fearlessly with stage IVB cervical cancer because of my relationship with Cervivor, which connected me to a clinical trial when I needed it most. The organization also taught me that I’m more than a cancer patient and that I have a voice that can change lives, heal others, and prevent this from happening to anyone else. Cervivor has equipped me to be informed, to feel empowered, and to be alive.”

Finally Finding Fearlessness

A cervical cancer diagnosis can shape your story, but – as Gwendolyn pointed out – it doesn’t have to define you. Fearlessness isn’t something achieved overnight; it’s a journey. Embracing a fearless mindset happens through support, education, and collective strength. 

Here are some ways that you can make a difference in your life and others:  

Together, let’s break the silence surrounding cervical cancer and cultivate a community of powerful patients, survivors, and advocates.