Trust Your Instincts and Protect Your Mental Health, Says Survivor

Samantha Gonzales-Russell, a three-time cervical cancer survivor, encourages patients to trust their instincts, seek second opinions and advocate for themselves when told no options remain.

After her third diagnosis, she contacted multiple specialists until finding a Los Angeles team willing to perform pelvic exenteration surgery. She says feeling heard and respected mattered as much as credentials. Living with two permanent ostomies required time, therapy and self-compassion as she adjusted to a different version of normal and allowed herself space to process the emotional impact of survivorship.

In an interview with CURE, she urges survivors to pay attention to red flags such as abnormal bleeding, pain or digestive changes and to push for further evaluation if symptoms are dismissed. She also believes mental health support should be part of standard cancer care, not optional.

CURE: After doctors said no options remained for your third diagnosis, you found a team in LA for pelvic exenteration — apologies if I’m pronouncing that correctly. What is your advice for patients on how to “shop for a yes” when their local team gives up?

Samantha: My advice is to be thorough, to advocate for yourself as a person and as a patient first and foremost on both of those fronts and to trust your instincts.

I think our gut, a lot of the time, will lead us the right way. I had to have a lot of conversations with different doctors. Sometimes the answers would present themselves, but other times it was just about connection. I’d meet a provider and think, they’re really listening to what I’m saying, they’re really taking the time, they’re validating and supporting how I feel.

That’s what led me to the right team, the team that saved my life. So I would say trust your instincts and be thorough, because you deserve that.

You live with two permanent ostomies following your surgery. How did you move past that initial trauma of these medical devices to a place where you now share them openly to reduce stigma?

It took me a long time, honestly. I think as a cancer survivor and as a patient, we tend to put on a brave front a lot of the time because we have to. We’re coping with so much.

So I took time. I stepped back from jumping back into a “normal” life. I’m still trying to figure it out, and it’s been almost six years. There are still times when I must revert to that and just take some time for myself and create space.

That was key for me. During treatment, I always envisioned what life would look like after everything. I was beyond excited and ready to get back to it. But the reality is, it wasn’t that simple. So I gave myself a lot of grace, went to therapy, worked on myself and tried to show myself as much compassion as I could.

When cancer is in your life, even when you get past it, it’s still there for the rest of your life.

Yeah, and I think that’s important to remember. We all have that urge to get back to a sense of normalcy, but we also must process and accept that “normal” is very different now and that’s okay.

It’s not the same. We’re allowed to grieve that, and we’re allowed to feel upset about it. But we also worked hard to be where we are, so we should be able to appreciate the present at the same time.

Your symptoms were initially dismissed as a UTI and anxiety despite your cancer history. What specific red flags should tell a survivor it’s time to stop asking and start demanding a new doctor?

I think it goes back to following your instincts. Truly, you know your body best. If you feel like something is wrong and you need answers, please, please follow that instinct.

For cervical cancer specifically, there are symptoms that are big red flags and need more investigation from a medical professional. For me, those were abnormal bleeding and abnormal pain. I also had digestive problems with my first and second recurrence. Any of those abnormal changes are serious symptoms that are worth checking out.

You’ve been open about your PTSD and depression. Why do you believe professional therapy should be a standard part of the clinical treatment plan rather than just an optional resource?

I think — and honestly, I know from experience — that surviving cancer comes with a lot of trauma. There’s just no way around it. Our bodies go through invasive, intense treatments no matter what kind of cancer you’re dealing with, and along with that come mental health repercussions.

It really crashes your sense of normalcy and your regular life. Surviving puts you in a completely different mental space, and it takes intentional work to come out of that and feel like yourself again and feel safe living life again.

That’s why I’m such a big advocate for talking about your mental health, addressing it and processing it with a professional. Patients with cancer already go through so much. We really need that extra support from diagnosis through treatment and survivorship, because it’s such a heavy burden to carry.

As an ACS CAN lead, what’s the most effective way a survivor can use their personal story to influence lawmakers without feeling like they have to be political?

I think first and foremost, using your voice is important. I understand not wanting to be political, but I’ve come to realize that health care and health issues are inherently tied to policy now.

Using your voice doesn’t mean you have to take a partisan side. That’s not the focus. It’s more about advocating and being mindful of the policies that will impact patients.

So maybe don’t focus on partisanship. Focus on how something is going to affect your community. What is being done to help or harm patients? Start from there.

Through the Evergrow Healing Company, you focus on the art of healing. How has creative expression helped you separate your identity from your diagnosis after such a radical physical transformation?

Creativity has been incredibly therapeutic for me. It’s been a way to express myself, especially after working through misdiagnoses and being dismissed. I think a lot of women can relate to that.

Having an outlet to be true to ourselves and let our feelings come out is so important. That’s why I wanted to incorporate art. Who doesn’t enjoy creating something? I’ve learned it’s psychologically good for us.

As much as I can, I just want to connect people and allow them to express themselves authentically. It’s been such a big part of my healing process, and I hope it can be part of others’ too.

What advice do you have for caregivers who are caring for a patient with cancer?

Such an important question. With caregiving, the focus is always on the patient, and I’m here because of that support, but it’s important that caregivers give some of that care back to themselves.

They’re in it for the long haul and they give so much of their energy and time, which can be draining. They need something that fills them up, too.

For example, my husband loves running, and I always encourage him to carve out time for that. Whether it’s exercise, art, reading or anything else, make that time for yourself.

Caregivers are incredibly dedicated, but they deserve care too. It really takes everyone’s energy. It’s a team effort. When we take care of ourselves and each other, that’s how we get through it together.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

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