Local woman fighting extremely rare form of cancer
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LAKE GOODWIN, Wash. -- Jen Bell-Burgess suffers from a form of cancer so rare that she believes she is one of only five total patients in the world.
Large-cell cervical cancer is aggressive and ugly. But Bell-Burgess won't back down from the fight for her life, and she won't stop trying to make sure the disease gains awareness.
Jen is on oxygen and losing her voice. But she only looks forward. Husband Matt Burgess is quick to point out Jen is the strong one.
"She's a fighter," he said. "I think 90 percent of people would've quit. I say that same thing, and she looks at me and says, 'No, you'd fight for your kids. You'd fight for me.'"
"You have to," added Jen.
In the throes of chemotherapy, Jen remained such a positive attitude that some people wondered if she was really sick. She was, and she is.
She was first diagnosed 16 months ago after her menstrual period lasted longer than a month. The cancer is extremely aggressive, but because it hits so few women, there are no clinical trials, no set treatment protocols and little awareness.
"It's a silent killer," said Jen. "A lot of times people find it too late. And then they're gone."
That has drawn women together who share the rarity of their disease. Both large-cell and small-cell kinds make up less than one percent of all cervical cancers.
"I'd love first of all for there to be awareness for what we have," said patient Angela VanTreuren. "It does exist. We're not treated like the typical cervical cancers. It's not detectable by a pap. From a medical standpoint, we need funding. We need research."
Doctors give Jen "weeks to months" left to live. But she is the strong one.
"Nobody knows what tomorrow's going to bring you. You've got to have faith. For my husband and my kids, I do it.," she said.
Jen urges women to not only get regular checkups, but also to be a strong advocate for their own health.
There is a grassroots effort to raise money to research small cell and large cell cervical cancers. Donate or get more information here.
Large-cell cervical cancer is aggressive and ugly. But Bell-Burgess won't back down from the fight for her life, and she won't stop trying to make sure the disease gains awareness.
Jen is on oxygen and losing her voice. But she only looks forward. Husband Matt Burgess is quick to point out Jen is the strong one.
"She's a fighter," he said. "I think 90 percent of people would've quit. I say that same thing, and she looks at me and says, 'No, you'd fight for your kids. You'd fight for me.'"
"You have to," added Jen.
In the throes of chemotherapy, Jen remained such a positive attitude that some people wondered if she was really sick. She was, and she is.
She was first diagnosed 16 months ago after her menstrual period lasted longer than a month. The cancer is extremely aggressive, but because it hits so few women, there are no clinical trials, no set treatment protocols and little awareness.
"It's a silent killer," said Jen. "A lot of times people find it too late. And then they're gone."
That has drawn women together who share the rarity of their disease. Both large-cell and small-cell kinds make up less than one percent of all cervical cancers.
"I'd love first of all for there to be awareness for what we have," said patient Angela VanTreuren. "It does exist. We're not treated like the typical cervical cancers. It's not detectable by a pap. From a medical standpoint, we need funding. We need research."
Doctors give Jen "weeks to months" left to live. But she is the strong one.
"Nobody knows what tomorrow's going to bring you. You've got to have faith. For my husband and my kids, I do it.," she said.
Jen urges women to not only get regular checkups, but also to be a strong advocate for their own health.
There is a grassroots effort to raise money to research small cell and large cell cervical cancers. Donate or get more information here.
