From Caregiver to Becoming the Patient
- “Saturday Night Live” actress Julia Sweeney, 66, learned she had cervical cancer while simultaneously acting as a caregiver for her brother, who was battling stage 4 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
- Becoming a caregiver means offering both emotional steadiness and practical support, serving as a reliable presence through treatment, appointments, and everyday life.
- Sweeney underwent chemotherapy and a radical hysterectomy, leaning on dark humor to cope with her diagnosis and her brother’s decline.
- Cervical cancer begins in the cells lining the cervix, the lower part of the womb (uterus). It usually develops slowly, however, before cancer presents itself. Vaginal bleeding or pelvic pain are common symptoms.
- More than 70% of cases of cervical cancer are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex, according to the National Cancer Institute. More than 90% of HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer, are preventable in people who get the HPV vaccine.
- “The key thing to understand about HPV is that there are many strains, and only a few are strongly linked to cancer,” said Dr. Allen Ho, a head and neck surgeon at Cedars-Sinai.
Cervical cancer develops in the cells lining the cervix and often grows slowly, with symptoms like unusual vaginal bleeding or pelvic pain.
Read MoreThese cancers begin in lymphocytes—white blood cells that power the immune system—and are classified based on whether they arise from B cells or T cells.
Sweeney told the LA Times that caregiving gave her a false sense of protection.
“When you spend so much time taking care of someone with cancer, you kind of feel like you must be building up some chits against getting cancer yourself,” she said.
However, when her own diagnosis arrived, her world flipped again.
Caregiving can be emotionally and physically draining—managing appointments, offering reassurance, and navigating fear. Sweeney suddenly had to do all of that while facing her own cancer. She and her brother coped with a shared dark humor.
“He teased me that I had started with cancer envy and then developed sympathy cancer,” she said. “The hardest thing was finding ways to talk about all this that didn’t freak an audience out.”
Sweeney began chemotherapy and underwent surgery shortly after her diagnosis, according to the University of Chicago Divinity School. Her treatment included a radical hysterectomy and radiation.
A hysterectomy removes part or all of the uterus—and often the cervix—and is commonly used to treat uterine, ovarian, and cervical cancers.
Gynecologic oncologist Dr. Heidi Gray previously explained that hysterectomies can be performed through open or robotic surgery, depending on the case.
Just weeks into her own cancer journey, her brother’s metastatic lymphoma overwhelmed him. In the midst of grief and treatment, Sweeney leaned into humor as a lifeline.
“I’ve certainly proved that you can be sad and depressed a good 16 hours a day—but you’ve got to do something else with those other eight hours,” she once said. “Why not try thinking of your life as hilarious rather than nightmarish?”
Her mindset became the foundation for “God Said, ‘Ha!’”, an 89‑minute film adapted from her one‑woman stage show, where she transformed the chaos, heartbreak, and absurdity of cancer into something unexpectedly lighthearted for an audience.
Expert Resources for Patients
- ‘Controversial’ HPV Vaccine Shown to be Highly Effective in Wiping Out Cervical Cancer
- 10 Meaningful Cervical Cancer Tattoos That are Full of Hope and Resilience
- ‘A Sacred and Blessed Calling’ – Managing Life As an Alzheimer’s Caregiver
- “Be Proud Of What You’re Doing” — Justine Almada’s Ode to Cancer Caregivers
Navigating a Cervical Cancer Diagnosis
Cervical cancer forms in the cells of the cervix, the lower, narrow end of the uterus (womb), which connects the uterus to the vagina, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI).
“Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time. Before cancer appears in the cervix, the cells of the cervix go through changes known as dysplasia, in which abnormal cells begin to appear in the cervical tissue,” the NCI explains.
“Over time, if not destroyed or removed, the abnormal cells may become cancer cells and start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and surrounding areas.”
While symptoms tend to be difficult to detect during cervical cancer’s early stages, some signs can still indicate something is amiss and needs a closer look.
The NCI explains that symptoms of early-stage cervical cancer may include:
- vaginal bleeding after sex
- vaginal bleeding after menopause
- vaginal bleeding between periods or periods that are heavier or longer than normal
- vaginal discharge that is watery and has a strong odor or that contains blood
- pelvic pain or pain during sex
Tools to Help Cervical Cancer Prevention
As noted, a pap smear is an option to detect cervical cancer early. During the test, a doctor will collect a sample of cells from your cervix (using a small brush or spatula). The cells are then examined under a microscope for abnormalities, including cancer and changes that could indicate pre-cancer.
The added value of pap smears is that symptoms of cervical cancer might not show up until the disease is at stage 3 or 4, and more challenging to treat. This critical procedure helps doctors catch signs of the disease early. Furthermore, pap smears can lead to broader and more effective treatment options.
One of the leading causes of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV).
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is “a group of more than 200 related viruses, some of which are spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex,” the National Cancer Institute says. HPV infection is linked to multiple cancers, and the majority of sexually active people will get the disease at some point in their lives.
A study presented during last year’s American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2023 annual meeting found that public awareness of the link between HPV and cervical cancer was on the decline.
“The important thing to know about HPV is that there are many different strains, and only a couple of them tend to be more cancer-inducing,” Dr. Allen Ho, a head and neck surgeon at Cedars-Sinai, told SurvivorNet.
“Probably less than 1% of the population who get infected happen to have the cancer-causing virus that somehow their immune system fails to clear, and over 15 to 20 years, it develops from a viral infection into a tumor and cancer,” Dr. Ho added.
Protecting Against HPV
The HPV vaccine is recommended to protect against HPV and, therefore, HPV-related cancers.
Gardasil 9 is an HPV vaccine that offers protection against “nine HPV types: the two low-risk HPV types that cause most genital warts, plus seven high-risk HPV types that cause most HPV-related cancer,” according to the National Cancer Institute.
The vaccine creates an immune response to HPV 16, the primary cause of 92% of head and neck cancers. Once children are vaccinated, they cannot be infected with that strain. For parents, the HPV vaccine enables them to protect their children from developing cancer in the future.
“The key with the vaccine is that you receive it before you have sexual encounters,” says Dr. Geiger. “So that’s why these vaccines are approved for young children … ages 9, 10, 11 years old, up to age 26.”
The HPV vaccine is recommended for all male and female preteens 11 to 12 years old in two doses given between six and 12 months, according to the CDC.
The series of shots can also start as young as nine.
The CDC also notes that teens and young adults through age 26 who didn’t start or finish the HPV vaccine series also need the vaccine.
Additionally, people with weakened immune systems or teens and young adults between 15 and 26 who started the series should get three doses instead of two.
Although adults up to 45 can still receive the vaccine, it’s not recommended for everyone older than 26. Still, a person older than 26 could choose to get vaccinated after talking to their doctor about possible benefits, even though it is less effective in this age range, as more people have already been exposed to HPV by this point.
WATCH: Should children get the HPV Vaccine?
Vaccine hesitancy can impede people from getting the vaccine. The concern may come from parents who may feel the vaccine paves the way for early sexual activity. For this reason, some health practitioners educate the public differently about the vaccine.
“I think rebranding the vaccine as a cancer vaccine, rather than an STD vaccine, is critically important,” says Dr. Ted Teknos, a head and neck cancer surgeon and scientific director of University Hospital’s Seidman Cancer Center.
Dr. Teknos believes concerted efforts to “change the mindset around the vaccine” can make a difference.
WATCH: A New Wave of Cancer Patients Using SurvivorNet’s My Health AI Tools For Support
The Caregiver’s Role: Love in Action
Becoming a caregiver isn’t just practical—it’s deeply personal. Whether you’re a partner, sibling, parent, friend, or even a child, stepping into this role means embracing both emotional and logistical support. Caregivers often serve as a steady presence through treatment, appointments, and everyday life.
What Caregivers Often Do
- Attend appointments and ask key questions
- Offer transportation and companionship during treatments
- Track side effects, monitor symptoms, and communicate with care teams
- Connect with social workers and patient navigators
- Help manage daily routines and provide reassurance in difficult moments
Don’t Forget the Caregiver’s Well-being
Caregivers are the backbone of many cancer journeys, but they need care, too. Mental health support, financial guidance, and peer resources are critical. Engaging with social workers or patient advocates can ensure caregivers get the tools they need to stay strong—for their loved one and for themselves.
Questions For Your Doctor
If you or someone you love is facing a cervical cancer diagnosis, here are some questions to help you get added clarity from your care team about your treatment journey. SurvivorNet’s proprietary AI tool “My Health Questions” offers patients and their caregivers added value in navigating a diagnosis.
- What treatments do you recommend for my specific type of cervical cancer, and what is the goal of each one?
- What side effects should I expect from the recommended treatment, and what support is available to help manage them?
- How might treatment affect my fertility, sexual health, or overall quality of life?
- How will we monitor my progress during and after treatment, and what does follow‑up care look like?
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