Jolene Whisler’s passion for spreading awareness comes from her experience battling cervical cancer.
“I have been a cervical cancer survivor since 2006. I was 34 years old at the time and had radical surgery five days after being diagnosed. I endured 25 external radiation treatments and three internal radiation treatments. My experience drives me to want others to understand how quickly cervical cancer can move and how fast detection is with annual cancer screenings. I chose to take my health for granted, unfortunately. I had not had a cancer screening in seven years, and when I did get one, I lost my ability to ever
have a child within five days. That was my history and choice, but I want others to be reminded of cervical cancer awareness and understand that HPV (human papillomavirus) can transform into cancer if left undetected. It’s scary, especially since there are more than 200 types of HPV. Again, early detection saves lives!”
Advice from a Survivor
Jolene was a guest on ASHA’s Sex+Health podcast, offering insights for patients on making treatment easier, talking effectively with the medical team and practicing self-care.
Bridging the Gap for Advocacy
Jolene shares her story with cervical cancer and explains how her experiences led her to advocacy work with NCCC.
An Advocate at Work
Jolene and the Peoria Chapter work to raise awareness of cervical cancer prevention, from one-on-one discussions to grand events, like lighting up the Murray Baker Bridge in teal—the signature color of cervical cancer advocacy.
Cervical Cancer Prevention in Illinois
This downloadable fact sheet outlines the key steps to prevent cervical cancer—vaccinate early and screen regularly. Customized for the Peoria chapter, it also highlights statistics that show the burden of cervical cancer in Illinois.