Understanding Cervical Cancer
- “Love Is Blind” star Shaina Hurley, 35, was diagnosed with stage two cervical cancer after a routine pap smear when she was three months pregnant, but her strength and ongoing faith in God helped her through adversity. She’s now cancer free and sharing her story to spread cervical cancer awareness.
- Cervical cancer begins in the cells lining the cervix, the lower part of the womb (uterus). It usually develops slowly, however, before cancer presents itself. Vaginal bleeding or pelvic pains are common symptoms.
- Pap smears are one way to detect cervical cancer early. During the test, a doctor will collect a sample of cells from your cervix (using a small brush or spatula). The cells are then examined under a microscope for abnormalities, including cancer and changes that could indicate pre-cancer.
- Although it’s unclear what led to Hurley’s cancer diagnosis, it’s important to note that more than 70% of cases of cervical cancer are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). More than 90% of HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer, are preventable in people who get the HPV vaccine that is recommended for all preteens (both girls and boys) 11 to 12 years old.
- New York City Presbyterian Pastor Tom Evans previously spoke with SurvivorNet about how faith can help people cope with the complex emotions that come with cancer.
Hurley, who welcomed her beloved son Yiorgos David earlier this year with her husband Christos Lardakis and is now celebrating being “cancer-free,” recounted her cancer journey in an recent interview with People.
Read MoreView this post on Instagram
Hurley was informed just weeks after her colposcopy [when a doctor examines the cervix and tissues surrounding it for cell changes that could lead to cancer] that things weren’t “looking good.”
Doctors quickly confirmed she had cervical cancer.
She explained, “I felt the fear creeping in but I knew then and there, I can’t let the enemy take over my mind. I can’t go down that dark hole. I had to go into survival mode and tell God, ‘I trust you.’ I just prayed for the best, at the end of the day.”
Then, instead of having a cone biopsy to check if the cancer had spread, a procedure that came with risks she didn’t want to take while being pregnant, Hurley, who was 22-weeks pregnant at the time, had a laparoscopic surgery to check if the cancer hadn’t spread to her surrounding lymph nodes.
She continued, “It hadn’t spread to the lymph nodes but they were still wanting to do chemotherapy. I still had no symptoms, so I did deny chemotherapy. It was hard for the doctors because I was their patient first. And I was a tough patient.”
View this post on Instagram
Despite doctors advising it would be best if she delivered her son early at 32 weeks, she chose to take “the risk and pushed it to 37-and-a-half weeks and delivered a healthy baby boy.”
Hurley, who had biopsies taken during her C-section, told People, “My faith and my strong will kicked in and there was no other way I was going to do it, We had a miscarriage before Yiorgos and so when I finally got a healthy pregnancy, nothing was going to stop me. But it did put a gray cloud over it.”
Two weeks after the birth of her son she had a mini-stroke, which she recovered from, and four weeks after that incident she had an unsuccessful cold knife conization. She underwent an additional conization six weeks later, and by June 2024, she was declared “cancer-free.”
Expert Cervical Cancer Information
- New Cervical Cancer Test Detects Disease Significantly Better Than HPV Test and Pap Smear
- HPV Vaccination Dramatically Reduces Cervical Cancer Rates; Everything You Should Know About The Vaccine
- New Hope for Patients With Cervical Cancer: Adding Immunotherapy Drug to Standard Chemo Treatment Could Improve Survival Time
Hurley, who will continue to get check ups at the doctor every three months, admits her cancer journey made her “stronger,” but she credits her strength as something she obtained through her faith in God.
She concluded, “My strength came from my relationship with the Lord. On this earth, we do suffer. But it’s how we suffer that’s the real test.
“If it wasn’t for my relationship with God, I don’t think I would have had the strength.”
View this post on Instagram
Helping You Better Understand Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer forms in the cells of the cervix, the lower, narrow end of the uterus (womb), which connects the uterus to the vagina, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
“Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time. Before cancer appears in the cervix, the cells of the cervix go through changes known as dysplasia, in which abnormal cells begin to appear in the cervical tissue,” the NCI explains.
“Over time, if not destroyed or removed, the abnormal cells may become cancer cells and start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and surrounding areas.”
While symptoms tend to be difficult to detect during cervical cancer’s early stages, some signs can still indicate something is amiss and needs a closer look.
The NCI explains that symptoms of early-stage cervical cancer may include:
- vaginal bleeding after sex
- vaginal bleeding after menopause
- vaginal bleeding between periods or periods that are heavier or longer than normal
- vaginal discharge that is watery and has a strong odor or that contains blood
- pelvic pain or pain during sex
A Common Cause
Cervical cancer starts in the cervix, and more than 70% of cases are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). More than 90% of HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer, are preventable in people who get the HPV vaccine that is recommended for all preteens (both girls and boys) 11 to 12 years old in two doses administered between six and 12 months apart. The shots can also be started as early as nine years old.
“The key with the vaccine is that you received the vaccine before you ever reach sexual debut or have sexual encounters. So that’s why these vaccines are approved for young children ages 9, 10, 11 years old, up to 26,” Dr. Jessica Geiger, a medical oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Cancer, told SurvivorNet.
Finding the Support You Need to Heal During Cancer Treatment
The American Cancer Society recommends cervical cancer screenings begin at age 25, and HPV screening is recommended every five years after that.
The Importance of Pap Smears
Pap smears are one way to detect cervical cancer early. During the test, a doctor will collect a sample of cells from your cervix (using a small brush or spatula). The cells are then examined under a microscope for abnormalities, including cancer and changes that could indicate pre-cancer.
This is an important procedure because symptoms of cervical cancer might show up until the disease is at stage 3 or 4. By helping doctors catch signs of the disease early, Pap smears can lead to broader and more effective treatment options.
Be Pushy, Be Your Advocate, Says Leading Expert
One of the leading causes of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV), one of the most common viruses which can be transmitted through sexual contact. HPV is the biggest risk factor for cervical cancer, and there are usually no early signs or symptoms of the disease. However, cervical cancer can be detected through regular check-ups, such as pap smears.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s recommended that women start getting Pap tests at age 21. “If your Pap test result is normal, your doctor may tell you that you can wait three years until your next Pap test,” the CDC explains.
Meanwhile, anyone between 20 and 65 years old is urged to speak with their doctor on which testing option is best for them. The CDC explains, “An HPV test only. This is called primary HPV testing. If your result is normal, your doctor may tell you that you can wait five years until your next screening test.
“An HPV test along with the Pap test. This is called co-testing. If both of your results are normal, your doctor may tell you that you can wait five years until your next screening test. A Pap test only. If your result is normal, your doctor may tell you that you can wait three years until your next Pap test.”
Cancer Research Legend Urges Patients to Get Multiple Opinions
For women older than age 65, the CDC says your doctor may suggest you don’t need further screenings if: “You have had at least three Pap tests or two HPV tests in the past 10 years, and the test results were normal or negative, and you have not had a cervical precancer in the past, or you have had your cervix removed as part of a total hysterectomy for non-cancerous conditions, like fibroids.”
Understanding HPV
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is “a group of more than 200 related viruses, some of which are spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex,” the National Cancer Institute says.
HPV infection is linked to multiple cancers, and the majority of sexually active people will get the disease at some point in their lives.
Although nearly all cases of cervical cancer are indeed caused by HPV, people should also be aware that HPV puts both men and women at risk of developing several other cancers, such as oral cancer and cancers of the vagina, penis, anus, and throat.
Overall, HPV is believed to be the cause of 90% of anal and cervical cancers, approximately 70% of vaginal and vulvar cancers, and 60% of penile cancers.
“There are no screening guidelines to screen for throat cancer, unlike cervical cancer with pap smears,” says Dr. Jessica Geiger, a medical oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet. “There are no standard tests to determine if you harbor the virus.”
On the plus side, HPV-related throat cancers are generally very responsive to a combination of radiation and chemotherapy treatments, according to Dr. Geiger.
“The cure rates for people who have HPV-related disease are a lot higher than those who have tobacco-related throat cancer,” she said.
WATCH: HPV’s link to cancer.
How Faith Can Help Your Journey
Having faith can help keep your spirits high even during times of struggle. SurvivorNet experts also say it helps cancer patients during their cancer journeys.
New York City Presbyterian Pastor Tom Evans previously spoke with SurvivorNet about the importance of finding ways to cope with the complex web of feelings you may be experiencing after a challenging health diagnosis, such as cancer or a threatening tumor.
“It’s important to reach out in a simple prayer to God, even if you’ve never prayed before, you don’t know what to say, a heartfelt plea, ‘God, help me, be with me,’” Pastor Evans told SurvivorNet.
“You can reach out to God, and you can reach out to people, your friends and family, and say, ‘I can’t do this on my own. I need you.’ “It’s in that willingness to be open and to receive that we can find something deeper that we never would’ve encountered without this hardship,” Evans continued.
Opening Yourself Up To Others After a Cancer Diagnosis
A study published in Cancer includes data that found “69% of cancer patients reported praying for their health” compared to “only 45% of the general U.S. population.”
Cancer psychologist Dr. Andrew Kneier helped co-author “Coping with Cancer: Ten Steps toward Emotional Well-Being.” He also co-authored a column published by Stanford Medicine with Rabbi Jeffery M. Silberman, director of spiritual care at Danbury Hospital in Connecticut.
The two add more context to the impact faith has on cancer patients.
“A person’s faith or spirituality provides a means for coping with illness and reaching a deeper kind of inner healing,” Kneier and Silberman said.
“Coping means different things to different people: it can involve finding answers to the questions that illness raises, it can mean seeking comfort for the fears and pain that illness brings, and it can mean learning how to find a sense of direction at a time of illness. Religious teachings can he
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
