‘Harlem’ Star Meagan Good Had A Terrifying Cancer Scare: Now She’s Urging Women To Prioritize Their Gynecologic Health

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Meagan Good's Mission to Educate

Actress Meagan Good, 40, had a cancer scare about 18 years ago when she went in for a routine pap smear and doctors found cells in her uterus that could potentially become cancerous. She decided to have them removed.
Now, she’s advocating for endometrial cancer awareness and encouraging other people, especially in the Black community, to take control of their gynecologic health.
Uterine cancer includes two types of cancer: endometrial cancer (more common) and uterine sarcoma. More than 90 percent of uterine cancers occur in the endometrium (the layer of tissue that lines the uterus), making them endometrial cancer. Uterine sarcoma, on the other hand, is very rare and develops in the myometrium, the muscle wall of your uterus.

Scare or not, hearing the word ‘cancer’ can change you. For actress Meagan Good, it motivated her to raise awareness for endometrial cancer the most common type of uterine cancer.

The 40-year-old star of Amazon Prime’s show Harlem is now the face of a campaign meant to educate others about endometrial cancer and encourage people to prioritize their gynecologic health.

"Gynecologic health is an important conversation to have at any age, but it's not often discussed, especially in the Black community,” Good said. “I'm not afraid to have open and honest conversations with my friends, family and doctor about gynecologic health and I want to encourage everyone, particularly the Black community, to do the same so more people can identify potential signs of endometrial cancer early.

"As women, it's important that we support each other, speak up about gynecologic symptoms and advocate for our health when visiting our doctor."

Starting yesterday, March 30, 2022, Good is partnering with the FORCE, SHARE, Black Health Matters and Eisai Inc. organizations for the Spot Her virtual walk event. This event will continue through June 22, 2022.

“For every mile logged, Eisai will donate $1 between FORCE and SHARE (up to 20 miles per participant, up to $20,000), which provide support for people living with endometrial cancer,” the website reads.

Meagan Good’s Cancer Scare

And though she has never received a uterine or endometrial cancer diagnosis herself, Good’s efforts come from having a scare about 18 years ago.

'I Push Forward': Meagan Good, 39, Who Had a Uterine Cancer Scare Years Ago, Shares Tips for Surviving Life's Challenges

“I went in for a routine pap smear, and after doing the pap smear, the doctor said that there was something that was abnormal,” she previously told SurvivorNet. “When I was waiting for the test results it was really scary because, you know, cancer does run in my family.”

Her results showed that the tissue in her uterus “could potentially become cancerous,” so she decided to have them removed.

“For me, what kept me calm was just saying OK, God forbid, you know, I don’t come through it then, you know, at the end of the day it’s really about not dying from but living with and finding a way to really just keep your eyes on God and have a positive attitude and walk in purpose,” she told SurvivorNet. “And if this is a part of that journey having that mindset and mentality.”

Ever since operation on her uterus, Good has continued to monitor her health with regular doctor’s appointments.

"I became much more conscious of my gynecologic health and the importance of going to my annual appointments," Good told Spot Her.

Understanding Uterine Cancer

Uterine cancer includes two types of cancer: endometrial cancer (more common) and uterine sarcoma. The uterus, or womb, is a pear-shaped organ where a fetus can develop and grow. More than 90 percent of uterine cancers occur in the endometrium (the layer of tissue that lines the uterus), making them endometrial cancer. Uterine sarcoma, on the other hand, is very rare and develops in the myometrium, the muscle wall of your uterus.

Unlike cervical cancer, uterine cancer is not caused by HPV. But there are also several conditions that may predispose someone to getting uterine cancer including:

Hypertension
Diabetes
Polycystic ovary syndrome (which is marked by the absence of regular periods)
Obesity
Hyperandrogenism (elevated male sex hormones)
Lynch syndrome

Understanding the Risks and Symptoms of Uterine Cancer

"These patients might not be thinking about this, their primary care providers may not be speaking to them about this," warns Dr. Diana English, a gynecologic oncologist with USF Health.

There are also several signs to watch out for regarding uterine cancer. Irregular bleeding bleeding in between periods for pre-menopausal women and unexpected bleeding for post-menopausal women is a very common symptom.

If you develop abnormal bleeding or have any concerns about your body, it is important to direct all questions to your doctor right away. Early cancer detection is hugely beneficial for treatment outcomes, so always remember to advocate for yourself.

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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