My cancer journey is not the typical one, but one that I think many young women should know about and arm themselves with knowledge as statistics show endometrial cancer (a form of uterine cancer) on the rise. 

What started as a way to preserve my fertility at the age of 37 proactively, became the biggest plot twist of my life that I NEVER saw coming. On my initial consultation visit, a routine ultrasound revealed a thickened endometrium. There were no symptoms except for battling PCOS since I was 15 and missing periods for many years, so this finding certainly raised some concern. A biopsy was done “just in case”, leading me to 5 words that changed my life forever while waiting on a plane at Charlotte Douglas Airport: “Jennifer, you have endometrial cancer”. The next few months after hearing those words consisted of lots of tears, researching staging vs grading of cancer, many doctor appointments and second opinions. It also put a big pause on my egg-freezing journey, not being able to continue that  journey until a clear endometrial biopsy was clear (a girl could dream!). As I was still of childbearing age and had NEVER been pregnant before, we tried everything we could to spare my fertility, including high dose Megace, futile weight loss attempts, and even at one point, the insertion of not 1, but 2 IUDs, with hopes it would reverse the cancer. Despite our best efforts, a repeat D&C in September of 2022 revealed my 2 worst nightmares had come true: my endometrial cancer alarmingly advanced to grade 3 and the best treatment recommended? A full and total hysterectomy. I will never forget that phone call, nor the very moment my heart shattered into a million pieces knowing my life’s greatest desire to grow and carry my own child in my body was being taken away from me. I had always been told that due to PCOS I would have a hard time getting pregnant, but nothing could have ever prepared me for the decisions I had to make following this crushing part of my journey. 

I will forever be thankful to an amazing surgical oncologist who truly listened to me and understood the desires of my heart as a woman who desperately desired motherhood. We ensured it was safe for me to do a lightning round of egg freezing before my hysterectomy where I successfully was able to retrieve 36 eggs (a procedure done without general anesthesia due to my high BMI at the time, and a wicked case of OHSS, ovarian hyper stimulation syndrome, after…shew!😲) I had 36 eggs retrieved on a Tuesday, and my full hysterectomy that following Friday. This all followed by an entry into surgical menopause the moment I woke up from surgery. My final pathology after the surgery revealed Grade 1a Endometrial cancer with 31% of the muscular lining of my uterus affected. I am thankful no chemo or radiation had to be done, but my journey navigating surgical menopause starting at 38 has not been an easy one. Along with coping with the crushing grief of losing my fertility and my life’s greatest desire, I have been abruptly thrust into a life of menopause in my late 30s with very few to no one my age who could relate to my struggles and what I was (and still am) experiencing. 

It’s been a journey of many peaks and valleys, self-love and awareness, anger and sadness, love and forgiveness-and lots of therapy.  Insert Teal Diva and the hope, community, and love that they have shown me since I had to learn to navigate this whole new world of post-cancer/survivorship. A true diamond in the “rough”, Teal Diva brings a community of women who truly understand you.  You never have to explain how you feel, they just “know” with the touch of a hand on your shoulder or a knowing look. The events, the support, the love: I’m not sure what I would do without it all. Though my story ultimately can look like a heartbreaking one, I have found my strength, my voice, and my most authentic self during this journey and oddly, I will forever thank this cancer journey for that. I vow to spend the rest of my life raising awareness for uterine cancer, educating women about uterine cancer (because why did I only hear of it ONCE I WAS DIAGNOSED?!), and ultimately work to be that force that helps one less woman have to experience the obstacles and life-changing events I endured. Thank you Teal Diva, from the bottom of my heart, for the light you are in my life and so many others as well. I am forever grateful.

🤍 Jen