Stage 3 Cervical Cancer at 43: The Symptom I Almost Ignored

I Thought I Didn’t Have Time for a Pap Smear

I’m going to start with the uncomfortable truth.

I didn’t skip my pap smear because I was reckless.
I skipped it because I was busy.

Running businesses. Raising kids. Showing up for everyone else.
You know, life.

And then, at 43, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 cervical cancer.

This blog is not dramatic. It’s not polished. It’s not written from some mountaintop of inspiration. It’s written from the very real place of someone who thought, “I’ll book it next month,” for about fourteen years.

And I don’t want you doing the same.

The Symptom I Nearly Ignored

You always imagine cancer comes with flashing neon signs.

It doesn’t.

My only symptom was discharge. That’s it. I thought maybe my bladder was failing. Maybe a UTI. Maybe hormones. It wasn’t painful at first. It wasn’t dramatic.

Just different.

When I finally went to the doctor and had a pap smear, it hurt. Not uncomfortable. Hurt. I felt nauseous. There was bleeding. I felt genuinely unwell afterwards.

That was the first sign something wasn’t right.

Within weeks, I went from thinking it was nothing… to hearing the word cancer.

How I Went from Stage 1 to Stage 3

This part confused a lot of people.

I was initially told Stage 1. Then Stage 2. Then Stage 3C1.

It wasn’t that the cancer suddenly exploded in that short period of time. It was that each new scan showed more detail. MRIs. PET scans. Contrast dyes. The works.

Each test gave a clearer picture.

And that clearer picture showed it was more advanced than first thought.

Here’s the part that matters:

Cervical cancer is typically slow growing.

Which means it likely didn’t have to get to Stage 3.

Regular screening probably would have picked up abnormal cells years earlier.

That’s the bit that stings.

What Treatment Actually Looks Like

People hear “treatment” and imagine one appointment every few weeks.

Not quite.

For me it was:

• External radiation five days a week for five weeks
• Some double radiation days to account for public holidays
• Five rounds of chemotherapy (Cisplatin)
• Internal radiation, called brachytherapy
• Ongoing immunotherapy for two years

There were blood tests constantly. IV fluids. Anti-nausea medication. Waiting rooms. Long days. Brain fog. Fatigue that hits your bones.

There were moments I thought I might vomit on the radiation table. Moments I considered turning the car around. Moments I wondered if I should call an ambulance.

And there were also moments where I realised how lucky I was that it wasn’t worse.

Treatment is not glamorous. It’s not empowering. It’s just something you get through.

The Side Effects No One Talks About Enough

Radiation for cervical cancer puts you into surgical menopause.

Let that sink in.

Chemo brain is real. The fatigue is real. The emotional waves are real.

You don’t just “finish treatment” and bounce back.

Your blood counts drop. You’re susceptible to infection. You cancel plans. You miss things. You pull back from work.

I overdid it recently and had to rein myself back in. That’s the humbling part.

You realise your body will force boundaries if you don’t create them yourself.

This Is Not a Vaccine Debate

Yes, there is an HPV vaccine. Yes, screening guidelines exist. In Australia, cervical screening is generally every five years unless you are high risk.

But this isn’t about debating anything.

It’s about personal responsibility.

I had no valid reason for not being up to date. It wasn’t fear. It wasn’t trauma. It was inconvenience.

Five to ten minutes of awkwardness felt easier to postpone than to prioritise.

Until it wasn’t.

Prevention Is Boring. Treatment Is Not.

We are good at booking hair appointments.

We are good at booking holidays.

We are good at booking client meetings.

We are not always good at booking our own health checks.

Since sharing my story, I’ve had so many messages:

“I booked my pap smear.”
“I finally did my breast check.”
“My husband’s getting his prostate checked.”

That right there makes this worth it.

Because prevention is uncomfortable for five minutes.

Treatment is uncomfortable for months.

The Real Lesson

I don’t believe everything happens for a reason.

But I do believe this has forced me to stop treating my health like it’s optional.

I was too busy. Working too much. Running at capacity.

I probably won’t go back to that version of myself. And maybe that’s not a bad thing.

If you’re reading this and you’re overdue for something, this is your nudge.

Not in a dramatic way. Not in a fear-based way.

Just in a “please don’t learn this the hard way” way.

Ready to Listen?

I share the full, unfiltered story in this episode of The StacyM Show.

If this resonates, send it to someone you love.
If you’re overdue, book the appointment.
And if you want to work with me or have questions, reach out.

👉 Listen to the full episode of The StacyM Show
👉 Or book a consult via www.stacymunzenberger.com 

Your health deserves a calendar booking too.