Cassie’s Surgery for Stage 0 Cervical Cancer

Hello Friends and Family,

I have always prided myself with being an individual whom is extremely independent. However at this time, I need to ask for help.

My name is Cassie. I will be 41 in May, I am a single mother to 2 beautiful girls, and in early March 2024 I was diagnosed with Stage 0 Cervical Cancer with additional areas of pre-cancerous cells.

In December 2023, I went in for my regular PAP smear. After having some random abnormal/inconclusive results occasionally on PAPs over the last 10 years, my new GYN told me she was going to take a few more samples; now that I have gotten a little older she prefers to be more thorough.

Early January 2024, the nurse called me and informed me that cells were discovered on my PAP that required additional testing. I was scheduled for a transvaginal ultrasound, colposcopy and biopsies of my cervix and uterus ( which by the way they do not numb you for… ouchie ). I had to wait six weeks for the appointment, and a week later I was called with the dreaded news. I was scheduled for a consult for 3 days later to discuss my treatment.

I arrived for my consultation and was given the full explanation. I have a mixture of Stage 0 Cervical Cancer and also precancerous cells. She has recommended a LEEP procedure under general anesthesia as my procedure will be taking significantly more of my cervix than the normal. What is normally a 10 minute procedure is expected to be 45 minutes. She will also be scraping the walls of every area that tissue is not being removed. The procedure has a 90% success rate of the cancer not returning. The good news is that there is no cancer in my uterus, but I was diagnosed with uterine fibroids and adenomyosis: we’ll just treat the symptoms with these.

I have now spoken with the hospital and my GYN regarding cost. When all is said and done my total cost for all the procedures and treatment will be $7100.00.

This is so hard for me to do, but I realize that I need help. I am raising money to help pay for this procedure. Being a single mom with no additional income is hard right now. If you able to and want to help, I will forever be grateful. And if you cannot, thank you for reading my story!

Most importantly, I want to end saying this: Our healthcare system is trying to convince women into having PAP smears every 3 years instead of once a year. Please stand up for your heath and insist yearly exams. 3 years is not okay- where I could be today if I had allowed them to talk me into this is a scary thought!

Thank you and stay healthy! <3

With love, Cassie Sampson