Life Stories - itsyourlife

Genevieve Sambhi was a young mom when she received the devastating news: she had cervical cancer. But she’s a survivor today thanks to early detection.

“On paper, I am probably the last person who should have gotten cervical cancer. I was young, I’d been with my husband since I was 20, I had two young kids, I don’t smoke, only drink in moderation, and I exercise regularly,” Genevieve says. “If it could happen to me, it could happen to anyone.”

After a radical hysterectomy, which removes the uterus, cervix and the surrounding areas, including the lymph nodes, Genevieve found out that the cancer had spread and that she would require chemotherapy and radiation treatment. The aggressiveness of the cancer shocked her doctors.

“Those were the hardest parts,” Genevieve recounts. “The severe vomiting, diarrhoea and burning sensation on my skin (due to the radiation) was unbearable. What kept me strong was my wish to live a normal life with my kids again. I continued, when I could, to take them to school and look after them at home.”

With her children, husband, family and friends by her side, Genevieve found the strength to get through the rounds of chemotherapy and radiation treatments. “I come from a medical family and yet I knew nothing about cervical cancer. If I didn’t know, what were the odds other women would? No woman should have to experience what I went through,” she says.

Today, Genevieve champions the awareness of cervical cancer and advocates for education in all women, girls and even husbands, brothers, fathers and friends. “I have been given a second chance, and I feel that it is my duty to inform others about cervical cancer and build awareness about Pap smears and vaccinations,” she says.

When it comes to health and wellness, Teri Choong has always been two steps ahead. She exercised regularly and was careful about treating her body well and made it a point to go for regular medical check-ups and health screenings.

In October 2005, Teri made an appointment with her gynaecologist when she had a sudden bout of excessive bleeding. Finding her history of irregular period cycles unsettling, her gynaecologist decided to send her for a biopsy of her cervix. Teri agreed, thinking that it was more of a routine check than anything else. A few days went by before the doctor dropped the devastating news – she had a tumorous growth and was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

Terri’s treatment took more than six months and an additional year before she made a full recovery from cervical cancer. “I’m not going to lie,” Terri says. “Treatment was tough, it was painful, and I felt weak and sick all the time.”

But she would not give up the fight. “Pain is temporary, death is permanent. I refused to go down without a real fight,” Terri echoes. “I had two choices – I either make myself and others around me more miserable by being a real victim OR I fight it with every living cell and spirit I have left.”

Today, Terri champions for all women to speak to their doctors to find ways to reduce their risk of cervical cancer. “Regular screenings are as important as appropriate HPV vaccinations. In my case, it was a rare case that it went undetected, but PAP smears and early screenings are helpful and are so important,” she says.

“Women shouldn’t feel shy about finding out more about cervical cancer. Early screening and the appropriate HPV vaccination is so important. It may help save lives, and it may help to save yours and your loved ones as well.”