The Cervical Cancer Companion

Cervical cancer will always be scary. But it doesn't have to be isolating.

When I was diagnosed with cervical cancer, it was like a bomb went off right in front of me. I couldn't see, I couldn't hear, I couldn't think. I was devastated. Brokenhearted. Terrified. I would frequently stay up all night, feeling around in the dark, looking for hope in the blue light of the internet. But all I found were scholarly articles. Scary ones about women who died from cervical cancer. The invasive and painful treatments I might need. Survival and recurrence rates. Isolation. Fear and anxiety. Cold hard facts. Very few real-life stories.

What I needed was comfort and guidance. I needed someone who had walked the road I was on and knew the way out to grab my hand, hold it tight, and guide me through. I needed to know I wasn't alone, nor was I the first person to face this pain. I needed someone to make sense of the chaos in my mind; Who knew that there's so much planning and logistics involved in having cancer? Organizing caregivers, scheduling surgery and treatments, making calls to insurance companies and specialists, sorting out the details of taking a leave from your job, all while trying to maintain your mental and emotional health as they fall apart, still reeling from that cancer grenade that blew up in your face just weeks ago.

The Cervical Cancer Companion exists to help care for your mental and emotional health and help you process the trauma of cancer as you experience it, with the hope that you can arrive on the other side with a strengthened heart and mind, healthier relationships, and a spirit that is ready to build a new life after cancer.

What's Inside

• Personal journal entries from the author through each stage of her experience with cervical cancer.
• Journaling prompts and open areas to help you process through your own journey.
• Mantras to keep your heart and mind centered on peace and well-being.
• Practical tools like caregiver calendars, medication trackers and shopping lists.
• The knowledge that you're not alone.

"This is a must have for any woman dealing with cervical cancer. As a cervical cancer survivor myself, I would have begged for something like this! Beautifully written, exceptionally laid out, just a stunning book that is here to help YOU!" -Lily T., Cervical Cancer Survivor

"This book addresses all aspects of the cervical cancer journey - mind, body, and soul. It is clear the author has a passion for helping others thrive. The book is so authentic and relatable, while offering practical and helpful tools to keep you moving. Use it to stay strong, heal, and love yourself through this part of your story."- Sarah B. MA, Counselor and Professor of Psychology, LATI South Dakota

"As a firsthand caretaker to my significant other going through cervical cancer, I instantly found myself reliving all the intense experiences of the difficult journey. This book is visceral and brave. In the midst of reading this book you will come to realize that not only is the author inviting you into her life but, she is also inviting you to have an interactive conversation. This book will be a remedy to one of the biggest side effects of this disease... isolation."- Kevin K., Caregiver to Cervical Cancer Survivor

The Cervical Cancer Companion is for every woman, heartbroken and afraid, searching for light in the darkness. After surviving cervical cancer, I was compelled to create a survival guide for women to help them cope and thrive through their journey. Through sharing my own stories of pain and loss, affirming the grief and anger that can come with it, and sharing how we can care for ourselves well while we fight and as we heal, I intend to give women a healthy way through this horrible disease.

Andrea Bonhiver is a graphic designer, writer, and cervical cancer survivor living in Minneapolis, MN with her husband Justin and their 11-year-old Yorkie-child, Louis.