Heavy Bleeding Dismissed as Perimenopause Until Stage 3 Cervical Cancer Diagnosis
A busy Ohio mom of three mistook persistent heavy bleeding for perimenopause After a 22 year lapse in screenings she was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer Following treatment her scans cleared Now she urges others dont skip pap smears .
Unexpected Symptoms
Melissa Sanders a 46 year old single mother of three from Valley City Ohio endured nearly three months of heavy bleeding and pain in early 2024 Both she and her family assumed the symptoms were signs of perimenopause .
Everybody was telling me I am going through perimenopause Sanders recalled Her mother reassured her All of us go through it Sanders did not question it at first but the severity of her symptoms continued to grow .
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Skipped Screenings
Like many busy moms Sanders had not undergone a pap smear in more than two decades Between working and raising three children on her own her health often came last .
I never worried about me I just never had the time she admitted .
Diagnosis Unfolds
When her pain intensified Sanders finally scheduled a pap smear in March 2024 The procedure however was cut short .
I had cancerous skin falling off my cervix just falling off and there was ooze she described Subsequent MRI and PET scans confirmed the devastating news stage 3 cervical cancer .
Grueling Treatment
Sanders began six months of chemotherapy and radiation The treatments left her physically drained and brought on early menopause .
My son pretty much had to carry me around at my last radiation she shared Despite the toll she finished treatment in September 2024 and her scans have remained clear ever since .
A Shift in Priorities
Today Sanders is focusing on rebuilding her strength and reclaiming her life Recently she proudly walked three miles with her daughter and grandbaby .
I got to put me first she said explaining that her priority now is to stay healthy and active so she can be there for her granddaughters milestones .
A Crucial Message
- Out of her ordeal Sanders has one clear message for others do not delay routine screenings .
- It is very important to keep up with your pap smears mammograms Dont ignore it she urged .
Why Screening Matters
Cervical cancer screenings can detect precancerous changes long before they become dangerous According to the National Cancer Institute early detection greatly improves treatment outcomes .
The US Preventive Services Task Force currently recommends .
- Ages 21+29 Pap test every three years .
- Ages 30+65 Either HPV testing every five years HPV Pap co testing every five years or Pap test every three years .
Melissa Sanders story is a sobering reminder that persistent symptoms should never be ignored What she and her family thought was just perimenopause turned out to be life threatening cervical cancer Her survival and recovery now serve as both a warning and an inspiration prioritizing regular health checkups could save a life .