Kate was a healthy, happy 30-year-old when her doctor gave her the news – she had stage 2B cervical cancer. She later found out that it had spread to her lymph nodes, making the condition a fight for her life. She spent nearly a year fighting the disease, enduring 55 rounds of radiation and 17 rounds of chemotherapy, before being declared cancer-free in 2016.
I survived cancer, but survival is not all rainbows and butterflies. I began to wonder why I had survived while so many others had not. Cervical cancer is preventable. We must continue to invest in research to find more cancer prevention tools.
In 2018, she decided to fight back, sharing her story to advocate for health care equity, investment in research, and spreading awareness of the disproportionate impact of cervical cancer on women of color.
Throughout her journey, she learned more and more about cervical cancer and how it is a preventable disease when young girls get the HPV vaccine, which prevents them from developing the condition that can lead to cervical cancer. The vaccine, which can be lifesaving, wouldn’t be available without years of continued investment in cancer research.
Today, Kate is a proud mother to beautiful 4-year-old Louella, thanks to IVF and surrogacy. She continues to use her voice to advocate for further investment in research, so more people can live cancer-free.