By: Mary Potter, 37, Cervical Cancer

Hi, my name is Mary. I was 36 when I was diagnosed with stage 1B1 cervical cancer in 2024.

For years before my diagnosis, I was incredibly sick, exhausted, and in constant pain—but I didn’t have health insurance and couldn’t afford to find out why. In 2021, I started a new job at a big box store, and for the first time in my life, I had insurance. I was hopeful that I could finally get answers.

I originally went in for an ablation and sterilization consultation. Within the first five minutes, the doctor laughed and told me insurance always denies it, so I shouldn’t even bother. I sat there stunned—angry and heartbroken that I had wasted one of the only four doctor visits my insurance allowed for the year. While I was there, I asked for a general checkup instead.

Over the next several months, I saw six different doctors. Every single one dismissed me. I was told it was anxiety. Depression. That I was bipolar. That I had osteoarthritis. One primary care doctor told me I had fibromyalgia and prescribed a pill. When I asked what the testing or cure was for fibromyalgia, she told me there wasn’t any—and that if the pill worked, “who cares?” I was in shock. I still am.

Meanwhile, my body was clearly falling apart. My hair was coming out in chunks and breaking off. I was so exhausted that at one point I wondered if I was narcoleptic. I could barely make it through a four-hour shift at work.

Finally, after a bad Pap test result, I was referred to an oncologist/gynecologist—the seventh doctor I had seen. She was the first one who truly listened to me. She confirmed what no one else had caught: I had stage 1B1 cervical cancer.

A month later, I had a radical hysterectomy. Everything was removed except my ovaries.

Today, I’m over a year cancer-free—and thriving. I recently celebrated my one-year cancer-free anniversary, something I once didn’t know if I’d ever get to say. I share my story because being dismissed nearly cost me my life, and because listening—really listening—makes all the difference.