I Am…Writing a Note to My Younger Self
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. For some, it’s a reminder to schedule a Pap test or ask about HPV screening. For others, it can be a moment to reflect on what happened, what might have been prevented, and what we can still change for the next generation.
This story is drawn from Smart Patients’ experiences and from resources provided by Cervivor, Inc., the leading cervical-cancer patient advocacy and support group. The voice is a collective one shaped by lived experience.
Now that I’ve overcome cervical cancer, I keep thinking about how I would share my experience with my younger self. Not to scare her or overwhelm her with statistics or what I went through, but more to share a few things I learned the hard way.
First: The Small Appointments Matter Most
I know you're busy and feel fine. I know you think, “I'll deal with that later"—but please don’t wait to make the appointment and go. Get the Pap test. Be sure to ask questions, even the awkward ones. The professionals aren't embarrassed. You shouldn't be, either.
Second: Protection Is Important
The HPV vaccine is one of the few out there that prevents cancer, including cervical cancer and five others linked to high-risk strains of HPV (the human papillomavirus). It gives your future body fewer battles to fight. Don’t let stigma and false narratives keep you from protecting yourself or from giving protection to others.
Did you know that almost everyone will be exposed to HPV at some point in their lives, and most people will never know it? Most infections clear on their own, and the vaccine can prevent the ones that don't. Getting vaccinated spares you and your partner a thousand decisions you never wanted to face.
Third: Sometimes the System and Getting Answers Is Harder Than the Disease Itself
This part surprised me. You'd think the hardest thing would be the diagnosis, but the struggle continues when you have to navigate insurance or find a doctor who really listens to your story when you're feeling overwhelmed and exhausted.
Throughout moments of being scared, unsure, or in pain, it’s hard to keep asking the questions that are still unanswered in your head; but you deserve answers and compassion. Find the people who will listen.
What I Know Now
The HPV vaccination protects your body, your energy, your choices, your sense of control over what happens next. I didn't know this when I was your age, but I know it now.1
The HPV vaccine has been proven to be safe and effective at saving lives.
Cervical cancer is often preventable through the vaccine and regular screenings.
Screening catches cervical changes before they become cancerous; early detection catches cancerous cells before they are life-threatening.
Checking and preventing are nothing compared to the effort, time, and cost of treatment and the toll a cancer diagnosis can take.
Protecting your future self from cancer isn't paranoia—it's kindness and self-care.
What I Learned from Others
The most important thing I learned came from listening to other women who walked this road before me.
“When I started the organization 21 years ago, I did it because I looked for support groups and patient stories and found nothing—no voices that looked like mine or sounded like mine. My advocacy came out of a need for more people to talk about cervical cancer and HPV, and to support the women diagnosed with it. Today, Cervivor is a testament to how community and storytelling can change, improve, and save lives.”
She and others taught me that speaking up isn't difficult, nor is it being difficult. It’s essential to save lives and reduce stigma.
1These studies offer more information that supports this list:
Want to hear from more cervical cancer survivors? Explore Cervivor Stories—hundreds of real people sharing their lived experience to spark life-saving conversations.
At Smart Patients, we believe prevention works best when science and lived experience are allowed to speak. We aim to make the path a little clearer for everyone coming in with a new diagnosis and hope to make prevention routine. Sharing what you’ve learned helps others protect their future. That's what community is.