Shanny Pyke, a 44-year-old boutique store owner from Sydney, was diagnosed with stage two cervical cancer in September 2022. Initially assuming her symptoms were a sign of pre-menopause, she was shocked to discover it was actually caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), which she never knew she had. Despite having no family history of the disease, she immediately underwent treatment – a combination of chemotherapy and daily radiation for five weeks followed by three weeks of internal radiation. Although the treatment was tough and impacted her physically, she managed to get through it with minimal side effects. Today, she continues to have regular check-ups to ensure the cancer hasn’t returned and is on a mission to spread awareness about the disease. She advocates for annual pap smears and cervical screenings as they can catch abnormal cells caused by HPV early, offering the best chance of preventing cervical cancer. Shanny’s story serves as a reminder to pay attention to your body and to seek medical help if you feel something isn’t right.
