Cervical cancer: A survivor’s story and how this preventable cancer can be stopped
HPV (human papillomavirus) is the leading cause of most cervical cancers, but it can cause different types of cancer, including cancers of the mouth, throat, vagina, vulva, anus and penis. Both men and women are at risk of cancer from HPV, but doctors say it’s preventable.
“I’m not supposed to be here, I’m not supposed to be sick.” Those were the repeated thoughts that swirled through Shawna Husted’s mind in mid-2005. At age 31, she was approaching a life-changing surgery she didn’t want, and certainly didn’t expect. But, she had no option if she wanted to survive cervical cancer.
At the time, Husted, a first-grade teacher from Fairfield, Iowa, was a mother of a 3-year-old daughter and a 9-month-old son. She was living an active, healthy life. An avid reader and aspiring vocalist (this woman can sing!), Husted was hitting the high notes, both in her vocals, and in her personal life.
One preventive exam changed everything
During a routine medical exam, however, all that changed. During the pelvic exam, Husted’s doctor found a tumor he believed to be non-cancerous. They decided to remove the tumor that week, and sent it to the lab. Husted had never had an abnormal Pap test result, or any symptoms that might suggest she might have cancer. But, when her doctor called the next day, his news confirmed her worst fears: the test results revealed she had cervical cancer. “My heart was beating out of my chest,” said Husted. “I felt myself spiraling. It just didn’t feel real; it was devastating.”
Before she had time to process the diagnosis, Husted was scheduled for a critical, demanding surgery to remove, among other things, more than 40 lymph nodes, her cervix, uterus and appendix. “The surgery and resulting recovery was absolutely grueling,” said Husted. “There is no getting around it. It was as if I was given a new body, one that didn’t belong to me."
HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer
HPV is a very common virus. Most HPV infections go away on their own without lasting health problems. However, HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer. It's also linked to many other kinds of cancer in both men and women. There are two simple ways to protect yourself from HPV-related cancers:
- Get vaccinated. The HPV vaccination is most effective for both boys and girls when given between the ages of 9–12 years old. The most common reactions from the HPV vaccine are mild and scientists, and doctors are confident it’s safe.
- Get screened regularly. Screening can find changes in the cervix before cancer develops. It can also find cervical cancer early — when it’s small, has not spread and is easiest to cure.
A couple important facts about cervical cancer
- The mortality rate of cervical cancer has dropped more than 50 percent since the mid-1970s. Before that, cervical cancer was one of the most common causes of cancer death for American women. The main reason for this change is the increased use of screenings and prevention, such as pap smears and HPV vaccines, respectively.
- All Wellmark health plans cover the cost of the HPV vaccine. If you don’t have insurance, the Vaccines for Children Program covers the cost of the HPV vaccine.
“I felt like I was watching my life crumble.”
Following surgery, it took Husted several weeks to retrain her body to do tasks she once took for granted. Her full recovery would have to wait, though, because she had to start treatment. Only three weeks after surgery, Husted began radiation treatments. This left her unable to lift her two young children or attend to any of their needs. Her young son and daughter had to leave her home and be cared for elsewhere, while Husted attempted to heal.
“That, by far, was the hardest part,” said Husted. “Beyond everything else, I couldn’t be there for my babies. At that point, I truly wanted to give up. I know you’d much rather hear an inspirational message, but this is the brutal truth. I was not bouncing back. I felt robbed of time. I felt robbed of watching my children grow up. As a result, my marriage also suffered. It seemed there was no area of my life that cancer didn’t touch. I felt like I was watching my life crumble.”
Drawing inspiration from others
Things turned around while Husted was at her oncologist’s office at the University of Iowa. There, she was able to connect with others who had serious illnesses, like herself, and were experiencing the same physical and emotional pain.
She also became involved with Cervivor, a nonprofit organization that helped her create a bond with other cervical cancer patients and survivors. “Having people who understood what I was going through was an enormous boost for me,” said Husted. “I began to see, slowly, that life is truly precious, and that I was given a second chance,” adds Husted. “Cervivor has truly changed my life and given me healing.”
Husted also emphasizes the important role her health insurance played in her recovery. “If I didn’t have my health insurance, I don’t know where I would be today,” said Husted. She is no longer teaching first grade, due to many of the long-term side effects of cancer, surgery and radiation.
Today, Husted continues to rely on her health insurance to help manage the long‑term side effects of cancer. She attends physical therapy weekly to help with chronic pain and has undergone multiple procedures to improve her quality of life.
“It’s a job in and of itself to walk boldly in life as a cancer survivor,” said Husted. She takes management of her long-term side effects very seriously.
A new sense of purpose
Husted’s son and daughter have been vaccinated for HPV. “It brings tears to my eyes knowing that my daughter is protected from this horrible disease,” said Husted. “Why gamble? Having survived the nightmare that is cervical cancer, it is simply astounding to me. This can happen to anyone. And it can be prevented. That feels like a miracle to me.”
“I will never be the same,” said Husted, “But I feel a sense of purpose in telling others about the risks of HPV (human papillomavirus) and cervical cancer.”
“First of all, I want to be clear that I’m keenly aware of the debate surrounding the HPV vaccine, and vaccines in general,” said Husted. “But I’ve lived through my own, personal nightmare. And today’s advances in vaccines prevent this from happening to others. Scientific research shows the benefits of HPV vaccination far outweigh the potential risks. Whatever you decide, be sure to check credible sources before you dismiss this, or any, vaccine.”
Husted stresses the importance of preventive exams, “Even if your doctor said you only need a Pap test (a screening test for cervical cancer) once every three years — you still need an annual pelvic exam. That’s how my tumor was found,” said Husted. “I can’t stress it enough: Talk to your doctor. Schedule regular, preventive exams and vaccines.”
Survivor stories
Watch a video about Husted, and other HPV-related cancer survivors, men and women.
For more information about cervical cancer, its signs and symptoms, screening tests and the HPV vaccine, visit the American Cancer Society.