From Survivor to Advocate: A 12-Year Journey with Endometrial Cancer | Shanda Foster

Shanda Foster

September 2012 marks the 12-year anniversary of my rumble with stage 3 endometrial cancer, a diagnosis that would set me on an unexpected journey leading me down an inevitable path to advocacy work. My fight against cancer started at the age of 31. I had suffered through many of the symptoms that the illness carries with it. As a Black woman having a history of pelvic issues, many of my symptoms were mis-classified as fibroids. It took finding the right doctor to educate and test me correctly, which I am eternally grateful for. The doctors told me that there was a 40% chance that the cancer could return after treatment. My life was turned upside down deciding whether it was more important to fight for life or to fight for the ability to have children. My treatment journey has been arduous as I have fought through four recurrences and experienced surgery, traditional chemotherapy, radiation, surgery again, immunotherapy, and cyberknife. Yet, the scariest thing of all, was being blindsided by the reality that I could actually get cancer. The idea was inconceivable to me.

At this 12-year juncture, I’ve emerged resilient, healthy and steadfast to help change these many narratives. I share my story to help others awaken to the significant work that still needs to be done. There are deep systemic challenges that must be faced. My hope is that my story will resonate and motivate others to see the importance of endometrial cancer awareness.

Fighting endometrial cancer was the most difficult challenge of my life—a battle at times that felt isolating and lonely. Now, as I stand on the horizon looking at the landscape of medical advancement, I see a bigger and more significant challenge. This obstacle is not just mine but one that affects us all from surgeons to social work. It is the obligation and the responsibility that we have to equip the public with awareness of endometrial cancer.

I look back following treatment and remission, and I began thinking about my future going into advocacy work. It was important for me to share my story for many reasons—mainly because my story was very unconventional. There were not many women in treatment who looked like me, but I knew that there had to be more who existed. I used social media platforms to connect with audiences, and not only was it therapeutic for me, but I had no idea how much my sharing was helpful to others who didn’t know how to deal with their illness. Unfortunately, I found myself hitting a wall when it came to the next steps that I should take. It wasn’t until I was connected with advocacy group ECANA (Endometrial Cancer Action Network for African Americans) that things began to click.

Not only was the group there for support, but they offered an advocacy training, which included medical professionals from around the country and a deep dive into an array of areas, all which had an effect on endometrial cancer, well being, and health care. Armed with the knowledge of our own locales and newly learned information on the latest in medical technology, we each headed back to our respective cities, and this is where it gets good.

I had this amazing training model, a bucket full of ideas, and knowledge, but reaching my target audience and getting them to come to a training proved to be a bit more difficult. I found that women who did not have a direct relation to cancer were indifferent and lacked concern when it came to allotting free time to learning about endometrial cancer. To note, my background is in event production and journalism—meeting new people, and engaging them with events is something that I have done my entire life. So, the questions that I began to ask became:

• How can I get non-patients and women at risk interested in the conversation about EC?
• What if I were to engage partners to help incentivize key opportunities to create awareness for EC?”
• What exactly do partnerships look like in medical advocacy?

That is what I would like to challenge you to begin to think about this month. In the event world, it is difficult to be successful without partners. Planning becomes a group effort with sponsors, venues, marketing, talent, etc. Every department brings their expertise to the table to create a ripple effect of movement in order to push the event further. That is what the endometrial cancer community needs now more than ever.

Let’s look at partnerships in a new light, thinking about the potential collaborations with healthcare providers, local businesses, community organizations, and media outlets. Each partnership can offer a unique contribution, whether it’s providing venues for awareness events, funding educational materials, or amplifying our message through media channels or activations. These partnerships can help us reach a broader audience, creating more opportunities for education and awareness. My personal goal is to create a ripple effect where awareness and education spread far and wide, breaking down the barriers that prevent women from accessing the information and support they need.

As we embrace endometrial cancer awareness, I challenge each of you to think about how we can forge partnerships to advance our cause. Whether you’re a survivor, a medical professional, an advocate, or simply someone who cares, your collaboration can make a significant impact. Remember, awareness is the first step towards action, and action is the pathway to change. Let’s take that step together, forging partnerships that will make a lasting difference.