Cervivor

Please join us tomorrow for It's a wonderful time to connect. We share it all -- the good, not so good and whatever in between.

Please note that there will not be one in July.

See you on Tuesday!

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Dn0YOErUSjWPehRl398Ddw #/registration

Today is National Cancer Survivors Day and we are celebrating each one of YOU.

You are Informed. Empowered. Alive.

You are the reason Cervivor exists, and why we do this work. You are the living, breathing, magnificent proof that surviving is possible.

Drop your survivorship anniversary in the comments. We want to celebrate you by name today!

Tomorrow is National Cancer Survivors Day…

We've been pondering a question: What does it mean to you to claim the word survivor?

For some of us, it arrived instantly like a badge of honor worn from day one.
For others, it took years. And for some, it still doesn't quite fit.

Every relationship to that word is valid here, and we want to hear YOURS.

He confused his symptoms with hemorrhoids. A month after Farrah Fawcett died of a**l cancer, Calvin Nokes got his first diagnosis of stage I a**l cancer. A week later, he received a second diagnosis: Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Miraculously, he survived both.

But surviving the cancer was only part of what Calvin had to navigate. As a gay man, the shame and stigma layered onto an already difficult diagnosis made it nearly impossible to talk about. For years, he stayed quiet.

Then he learned what HPV really is, who it affects, and how many people are in the dark about it. That was the end of staying quiet.

This month, in honor of National Cancer Survivorship Month and Pride Month, we are proud to spotlight Calvin Nokes — a**l cancer survivor, double cancer survivor, and one of the most committed advocates for HPV education in LGBTQ+ communities in the country.

His story: http://www.stjude.org/research/comprehensive-cancer-center/hpv-cancer-prevention-program/resources/news-hpv-program/reducing-hpv-cancer-stigma-with-pride

Pride Month is celebrated each year in the month of June. We are Cervivor and we want you to know that you are never alone. All stories matter.

Drop a 🌈 in the comments and show your support.

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Every cervical cancer journey is unique, but one thing remains the same: survivorship deserves to be celebrated.

Today on this we're honoring four incredible survivors from our community: Patti Murillo-Casa, Lindsay Gullatte-Lee, Carol Lacey, and Karla Chavez.

Their stories are powerful reminders of resilience, hope, and the strength that can be found even in life's most difficult moments.
Each milestone—whether it's one year, five years, ten years, or beyond—is worth recognizing. These survivors continue to inspire us with their courage, advocacy, and commitment to lifting up others facing cervical cancer.

In this community, we'll hold your hand, cry with you and celebrate your milestones. Because no one should have to navigate cervical cancer alone.

Join us in celebrating Patti, Lindsay, Carol, and Karla, and all of you. Share your story below or drop a some teal and white love. 💙🤍

June is National Cancer Survivorship Month, and we want to talk about four words that change everything: "no evidence of disease."

We asked our community what it was really like to hear those words. Here is what Kellie Defelice, a Stage 4A cervical cancer survivor, told us:

"I used to think NED meant the end of someone's cancer journey. Now I realize it's just the beginning of a different kind of fight. It's a relief, but also a possible ticking time bomb. I no longer want to waste time, and I just want to be happy."

Kellie is not alone. Thirteen years out, Samantha Richman says she still gets anxious every time she waits for those words. Dusty Ferrarese, NED for a decade, says the gift of that milestone changed how she moves through the world: "This extra time I'm given isn't to be taken for granted."

NED is not a cure. It is a milestone, and the beginning of a new and often complicated chapter. Our new blog post breaks down exactly what it means, how it differs from remission, and how to keep going when the fear doesn't go away just because the scans came back clear.

Read it now at cervivor.org https://cervivor.org/no-evidence-of-disease-ned-cervical-cancer-survivors/

If this answers a question you've been carrying, share it with someone who needs it. You never know who in your circle is sitting with this.

Understanding NED: What “No Evidence of Disease” Really Means for Cervical Cancer Survivors Hearing "No Evidence of Disease" is a milestone—but not the end of the story. Cervical cancer survivors from the Cervivor community share the realities of life beyond treatment.