As Cancer Survivors Month unfolds, individuals with harrowing journeys of battling the disease are stepping forward to underscore the lifesaving importance of proactive health screenings. Two such survivors, Sonya Engle, a two-time cancer survivor and Chief Operating Officer of Sonora Quest Laboratories, and Theresa Millington, who fought a cervical cancer diagnosis, are advocating for a no-delay approach to screenings.
Engle, who faced cervical cancer in her 20s and breast cancer later on, is stressing the significance of not putting off these potential life-saving tests. "You put it off, you think nothing is wrong, or 'I'll get to it later.' If you don't do it for yourself, do it for the people that love you. Get screened," Engle told FOX 10 Phoenix. She heralds the advancements in screening technology, highlighting the convenience of the HPV self-collect kits at Sonora Quest Laboratories that patients can use with ease.
Mirroring Engle's message, Millington's experience serves as a wake-up call for women who might attribute symptoms to less severe conditions like perimenopause. Initially believing her symptoms of hip pain and heavy periods were perimenopausal, Millington was shocked when diagnosed with cervical cancer after missing just one smear test. Following successful treatment, the 53-year-old Mold resident is urging others not to make the same mistake. "Please don't delay your smear tests. Listen to your body and seek medical advice if you notice unusual symptoms, no matter your age or circumstances," Millington said in a statement released by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
Both survivors advocate for staying on top of regular screenings, which have significantly improved over time due to advancements in technology and processes. Engle points out that a lot of people's biggest barrier is a lack of comfort with the procedure, which newer methods like at-home kits are helping to overcome. She explains to FOX 10 Phoenix, "Today, since Sonora Quest launched the HPV self-collect, a patient can go into their healthcare provider, and just like you go into the restroom to collect urine for laboratory tests, the HPV self-collect kit can be handed to patients and very easily get your own sample."
