Heather

You've got to trust yourself and your decisions when you're facing cancer. That's what worked for me. And I want to share my experience because I want to help others as they consider their options and move forward.

I was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer in 1995, and the cancer was already spreading by the time they found it. The doctors advocated radical treatment. It just didn't feel right to me and I wanted to find another solution. I was scared, but I wasn't ready to die at 43. I strengthened my resolve to overcome the cancer. You need to dig deep when you face something so serious.

Then my doctor informed me of a protocol for Cervical Cancer that one of her colleagues was heading up at the National Institutes of Health. I called him, fit the criteria for the protocol, and got involved in the study. I knew in my heart that it was the right thing for me. Of the 50 women involved in the study, I was the only one who survived. That was eight years ago.

I think your family, love, and a strong support network makes a huge difference. Gilda's Club was - and is - a major part of my life. And you can't underestimate the power of your brain in its ability to heal. You've got to believe that you have the strength to endure - and that you can win!