When Diagnosed With Cervical Cancer, Single Mom Turns to Advocacy — for Herself, Her Children and Other Survivors

A cancer diagnosis may be earth-shattering, no matter the stage or cancer type. But what happens when you’re a young mother of three children, without a current option for health insurance, and you’re given six to 24 months to live?

In honor of cervical cancer awareness month, CURE® spoke with cancer survivor Aisha McClellan in this episode of the “Cancer Horizons” podcast. McClellan shared how she advocated strongly for not only herself, but her children’s futures, and was able to achieve remission — which she has been in for four and a half years now. She also described how her journey led her to becoming an advocate for others through the SHARE organization.

“And so (at) 32 years old, again, a single mother of three, I was at a loss,” McClellan said. “I mean, it was devastating. And I just kind of had my big cry, and I had my breakdown, and I (thought) this isn't really good work for me. I didn't have any viable options of anybody to take care of my kids. I knew that I had no choice but to figure this out.”

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