Women Warriors: Cancer Survivors 'cerve' Their Community.

SHELBY, NC (WNN) - Imagine this. You go to the doctor for your annual checkup. You have no scary symptoms and no cause to be concerned. During this checkup, the doctor discovers lesions associated with Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Further tests show that you have cervical cancer.

This is a reality for many people who are diagnosed with this silent disease. According to the National Cancer Institute, cervical cancer typically does not exhibit symptoms until the cancer has spread. By that point, many patients wonder what they could have done to prevent it.

Over the past several years, cervical cancer advocacy has hit an all-time high. More people are speaking out about this disease, bringing awareness to the importance of prevention and detection.

Lindsay Gullatte Lee is a cervical cancer survivor who spreads awareness about the disease. She is the founder of Get Good With Your Health, a non-profit organization dedicated to cervical cancer advocacy. 

Through her organization, Gullatte Lee is determined to educate people about HPV and cervical cancer. On January 6, 2024, Get Good With Your Health will host its annual health fair in Shelby, NC, to kick off Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. 

This is the second year Gullatte Lee has hosted this event, A Healthier Mind, Body and Spirit. Last year, she organized this event while actively undergoing cancer treatment. 

After her diagnosis in November 2022, Gullatte Lee knew she had to take action and share her story. 

"I got the idea while I was in the hospital last year after being diagnosed with cervical cancer, I realized the importance of getting the information out there to the community," said Gullatte Lee.

She went to the emergency room after noticing heavy bleeding during her menstrual cycle. The doctor said that pre-menopause is commonly accompanied by abnormal cycles and that there is no immediate cause for alarm. 

Unfortunately, the bleeding indicated a more serious concern. Her symptoms persisted and Gullatte Lee returned to the doctor where she received a cervical cancer diagnosis. She felt shocked and afraid upon hearing the news. 

Cervical Cancer is caused by certain strains of HPV, a virus that is spread through skin-to-skin or skin-to-mucosa contact. HPV is primarily spread through sexual intercourse and is extremely common. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 13 million Americans are diagnosed with HPV per year. Not all HPV strains lead to cervical cancer and many people will go about life unaware that they have the virus. It can lie dormant for decades and is undetectable by tests in that state. 

Gwendolyn Jackson is currently battling stage four cervical cancer. Similarly to Gullatte Lee, her symptoms indicated menopause. She lives in Houston, Texas, where Get Good With Your Health will host another event following the Shelby Health Fair. 

Cervical cancer advocacy has helped her immensely. Joining advocacy groups can introduce patients to others who have similar experiences. 

"If you're not walking this walk, you don't understand how hard it is to get up. You don't understand all the side effects and you don't understand how scary it is," said Jackson. 

She also said cervical cancer advocacy is vital because spreading the word destructures stigmas against the disease. 

Cervical cancer patients often face stigmatization because of the sexual nature of the disease's spread. Additionally, cervical cancer attacks reproductive areas, which can be uncomfortable to discuss. 

"We are just regular women in the community and it could happen to anybody," Jackson said, "I didn't think it could happen to me, so I'm like, nobody is exempt. I thought I was exempt, but none of us are."

That sentiment rings true for many survivors and people living with cervical cancer. For this reason, cervical cancer advocates strongly encourage HPV immunization. 

According to the CDC, the most widely distributed HPV vaccine in the US is Gardasil-9. It protects against nine strains of HPV and can be administered to children as young as nine years old. 

The recommended age to receive the HPV vaccine is between 10 and 11. Gullatte Lee believes that there needs to be a shift in how the vaccine is discussed by medical professionals. 

During her daughter's routine immunizations, the healthcare provider presented the HPV vaccine as optional. The term "optional" can mislead individuals, sometimes giving the impression that a vaccine may not be crucial.

In her advocacy work, Gullatte Lee stresses the significance of vaccination in preventing cervical cancer.

"It was not presented as preventable cancer care and that is important for parents to know," said Gullatte Lee. 

The vaccine and the importance of screening will be discussed at the event. A Healthier Mind, Body and Spirit will feature individuals who have received a cervical cancer diagnosis. Many of these individuals represent a non-profit organization called Cervivor. 

Cervivor is a cervical cancer advocacy group that focuses on awareness and connection. 

Gullatte Lee and Jackson are members of the organization and became friends through a Cervivor meeting. 

Both women credit Cervivor with playing a crucial role in their experiences and introducing them to strong support systems.

"The first day we met, we were just clinging to each other and we have been there for each other every day," said Jackson.

Jackson is flying to North Carolina for the January 6 event and Gullatte Lee will attend the one in Houston.

Given the event's location in Cleveland County, it's worth noting that the local Cleveland County Public Health Department provides free pap smears and mammograms to uninsured women. This is through the NC Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCCP).

Debra Biddy, the nursing supervisor and BCCCP representative for the Cleveland County Public Health Department, provided a written statement regarding the program. 

"The goal of the NC Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) is to reduce the morbidity and mortality due to breast and cervical cancers in women by providing breast and cervical cancer screening & diagnostic services for eligible women," said Biddy in the statement.

This program targets women affected by poverty. According to the National Institutes of Health, people in impoverished areas are two times more likely to develop cervical cancer. 

Additionally, Black women are 40% more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer than White women. The National Institutes of Health says that Black women are 75% more likely to die from the disease as well.

Jackson witnessed firsthand the potential misdiagnosis of cervical cancer in Black women. Upon experiencing concerning symptoms, Jackson went to the doctor inquiring about her reproductive health. The doctor observed that she had fibroids. 

Fibroids are benign growths that can grow anywhere in the body. However, uterine fibroids are particularly common among Black women. According to Michigan Medicine, Black women are three times more likely to develop fibroids. 

Although fibroids are non-cancerous in most cases, their presence can lead to a misdiagnosis.

"I did have fibroids, but the tumor was under the fibroids so they didn't see it," said Jackson. 

The doctors told her that most Black women have them. The symptoms of menopause, fibroids, and cervical cancer are similar, leading to Jackson's misdiagnosis. She experienced symptoms for a year until a COVID-19 diagnosis uncovered a frightening reality: Jackson had cervical cancer.

"I had COVID for three months, and that was because of the underlying cancer," said Jackson.

Many Black women share Jackson's experience of cervical cancer misdiagnosis. 

Keesha Carter is a cervical cancer survivor and advocate. She operates a non-profit organization called Serenity, Courage and Wisdom. To avoid misdiagnosis, she encourages regular screenings, especially for women of color. 

"When you go to get screened, follow up. That is one of the things that's not happening consistently, especially within African-American communities and the Hispanic community," said Carter. 

She will be representing Serenity, Courage and Wisdom at the event in Shelby. The organization focuses on healing through artistic pathways. A Healthier Mind, Body and Spirit will feature several other pop-up health booths to encourage cancer awareness engagingly. 

"At this event, we're going to have Zumba to get your body moving," Gullatte Lee said, "We're going to have somebody that's coming to do hydration and B-12 shots, We have this woman that's coming and she does like a holistic approach to cancer diagnosis as well."

Although cervical cancer is the main focus, several other illnesses will be advocated for as well. Gullatte Lee's husband will speak about testicular cancer awareness and a lupus advocate will also be in attendance. 

A common theme among these cervical cancer activists is that they lend their advocacy to a variety of other illnesses. Christy Chambers is a survivor who works with an organization called Teal Diva. 

Teal Diva began as an ovarian cancer awareness group, however, they welcome members who struggle with all reproductive cancers. Although the diseases are different, survivors and patients of reproductive cancers face similar stigmas. 

Chambers emphasizes that having cancer is not a requirement to be an advocate. All it takes is education, a passion for change and a willingness to speak up. 

"Everyone can be an advocate. Talking about HPV with family, with friends, advocating for vaccinations as cancer prevention and, especially for women, advocating for yourself includes making sure you get screened," said Chambers. 

Each of these women has worked hard to spread the word about cervical cancer. They break boundaries and inform the public of common misconceptions. 

For example, Carter said HPV is not solely contracted through sex, but also skin-to-skin contact. Additionally, she expressed that HPV can spread to the mouth through oral sex. 

Another misconception is that only women can contract HPV strains that cause cancer. HPV can affect the anus and oral regions of men and women. Every sex can transmit the disease, therefore, the preventative vaccine is vital for all. 

Being an advocate for such a personal cause does not come without challenges. However, these women fight every day to ensure other patients’ and survivors’ comfort in discussing their illnesses. 

A Healthier Mind, Body and Spirit will take place at the Holly Oak Park Activity Center, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wear teal, the official color for cervical cancer awareness, to show support for the cause. 

"We want to paint the town teal," said Jackson.

As these inspiring women spearhead an important cause, they want everyone to remember to put health first. Being in tune with your body and recognizing when something does not feel right could save your life. 

Interested in attending?

• The event will take place at the Activity Center located on 809 Holly Oak Rd, Shelby, NC, on Saturday, January 6, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Interested in donating to the cervical cancer cause? Here are some links to cervical cancer advocacy groups!

• https://cervivor.org/donate/
• https://tealdiva.networkforgood.com/projects/103192-main-giving-page
• https://www.scawinc.org/donate

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