Eleven years ago, I was diagnosed with Stage 1B2 Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Cervix.

My journey through treatment was not easy. I underwent a radical hysterectomy, 30 external radiation treatments, internal radiation, and 13 chemotherapy treatments. Like so many women facing this rare cancer, I had to navigate uncertainty while doing everything I could to keep moving forward. Through it all, I held on to hope.

I still remember one funny moment during treatment. I went to my hairdresser to buy a gift card for my mother. When they asked what I was having done that day, I simply removed my cap and said, “Chemo took off my hairstyle.” Even in the middle of something incredibly difficult, I found a way to laugh.

Today, I am 11 years beyond treatment, and I want women who have been recently diagnosed to know that I am here as proof that there can be hope. My journey has not always been simple, and life after cancer has brought its own challenges. But I continue to move forward with gratitude, humor, honesty, and a deep appreciation for life.

To the woman who was just diagnosed and is searching for someone who understands, I want you to know:

I am hope for the recently diagnosed woman. After 11 years, I hope my story can be a reminder that hope can exist alongside fear, uncertainty, and even the hardest moments.