I Didn't See This Coming

I've debated whether or not to write this, but I finally decided to share.

Through my writing and coaching business, I often discuss chronic illness, grief, and life's difficult moments, including my own experiences. But this part of my life? I wasn't sure I wanted to make it public. Maybe it was the desire for privacy or simply the shock of it all.

I consider myself strong in spirit, and I've never been one who enjoys pity or a lot of attention. But if sharing my experience encourages someone to pay closer attention to their health and advocate for themselves, then it's worth sharing.

Listening to My Body

I hadn't been feeling well for quite some time, but I chalked it up to stress, my chronic illnesses, and simply getting older. But no matter what I did, I kept getting sicker and weaker instead of better.

A few months ago, something in my spirit said, "No, Trina, there's more to this." I couldn't keep ignoring what my body was trying to tell me.

Long story short, I ended up hearing words no one ever wants to hear: "You have endometrial cancer."

I wish I could say I heard those words directly from my doctor, but I didn't. I found out through MyChart, my online medical records. By the time I spoke with my doctor, I had Googled, ChatGPT'd, and Gemini'd just about everything imaginable. I had researched oncologists, hospitals, ratings, and treatment options.

This experience has been difficult, both physically and emotionally.

What I Want You to Know

Here's what I want others to take away from my experience, especially women of color, who face significant disparities in endometrial cancer outcomes. According to the American Cancer Society, Black women are nearly twice as likely to die from endometrial cancer as White women—often due to later diagnoses, more aggressive subtypes, and barriers to receiving timely care.

If something feels off or you're not feeling like yourself, don't automatically dismiss it as stress, aging, or an existing medical condition. Listen to your body and ask questions.

I know medical screening recommendations have changed over the years, and we're often told certain tests are no longer needed annually. But here's what I want people to understand: routine screening guidelines should never discourage you from speaking up when something doesn't feel right. Ask questions, express your concerns, and request further evaluation when necessary.

There is no routine screening test for endometrial cancer. In my case, I requested further medical evaluation because I knew something wasn't right. Abnormal findings from that evaluation led to additional testing and ultimately my diagnosis. I'm thankful I didn't dismiss what my body was telling me.

Processing the Unfiltered Truth

I'm still processing everything. Some days I'm pushing through, and other days I feel numb and honestly still in disbelief.

Yes, this sucks. Yes, I believe God is a healer. But having faith doesn't mean I don't have very real feelings and emotions about what I'm experiencing.

I don't have an inspirational quote or a neatly packaged positive message to offer.

Not everything has a silver lining. Sometimes, it just is what it is.