Published Apr 2, 2021

Should Cancer Patients Receive Full Body Scans Before Being Declared In Remission? A Warrior’s Final Wish

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Advocating For Future Health

Gemma Sisson-Moore, who passed away in July 2020 from cancer, was declared in remission in 2019 after her battle with pelvic cancer. A few months later, she was diagnosed with a secondary cancer that was not detected by her doctors.
Sisson-Moore was declared terminal, and as her last wish she created a petition that advocates all cancer patients receive full body scans before being declared in remission in order to detect any signs of other illnesses or cancers.
It’s critical that people take advantage of regular screenings in order to detect cancer in early stages, and advocate for themselves if they feel like something is wrong with their health.

Before Gemma Sisson-Moore, 39, passed away from cancer last July she made it her purpose to help others battling the disease and take control of their futures. After undergoing treatment for pelvic cancer, Sisson-Moore was given the all clear that she had entered remission, but turns out the disease had spread. As her last wish, she wanted to make sure no other person goes through the same experience.

Sisson-Moore was diagnosed with pelvic cancer (tumor of the cervix) in 2018 where she went through chemotherapy and radiotherapy for treatment. In January 2019, doctors told her that she had entered remission. However, in August 2019 she was diagnosed with a second cancer of the spine, liver, and stomach which had not been picked up by her previous doctors. The prognosis of the second cancer was advanced, and Sisson-Moore was declared in terminal stages. As her last wish, she created a petition advocating that all cancer patients should receive full body scans before being declared in remission in order to detect any signs of other cancers or illnesses.

Sisson-Moore passed away in July 2020, but her petition gained huge momentum. So far, the petition has received over 150,000 signatures and new ones are appearing by the minute. Their goal is 200,000. “Had Gemma received a full body scan in January 2019 (before the ‘no evidence of active disease’ verdict), her secondary cancer may have been diagnosed much earlier which in turn could have changed the long term outlook for her,” the petition reads.

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This could be a life-saving resource for those diagnosed with cancer, but it does come with its own obstacles. Currently, doctors typically use blood tests and other types of scans in order to detect signs of cancer, but modern technology may not be able to pick up signs of microscopic cancer cells throughout the body.

Why Screening is So Important

Sisson-Moore’s story is the perfect example of why it’s so important to advocate for yourself if you detect something is wrong with your health. You must also prioritize regular screening. While modern technology still has a long way to go in detecting every sign of cancer, screening and tests have certainly advanced thanks to research. Now, there are screenings that people can utilize in order to detect early signs of lung, breast, prostate, and cervical cancer (just to name a few). By attending regular screenings, this can help doctors identify any signs of cancerous cells early and catch the disease in earlier stages. This leads to more treatment options and increases the likelihood of the patient entering remission.

Going through regular screening is also a great example of advocating for your health. In some cases, people may be pushed away from going through these tests due to their age or family history, but at the end of the day you know your body better than anyone. Screenings can be life-saving resources for many people, and should be taken advantage of those who are eligible.

Ovarian cancer survivor Stephanie Virgin pushes for people to advocate for their own health

“I could explain away every single one of my symptoms and didn’t even recognize they were symptoms,” ovarian cancer survivor Stephanie Virgin previously told SurvivorNet. “If you don’t feel right, call your doctor. If your doctor doesn’t listen, get a second opinion. You need to know that you are your best advocate.”

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