March 24th 2024.
It's a sad reality that Black women often have to be their own advocates when it comes to their health. This was highlighted after the untimely death of popular influencer Jessica Pettway, at the young age of 36, from cervical cancer on March 11. What makes her story even more tragic is that she was initially misdiagnosed with fibroids.
It was in July 2023 when Pettway first shared her cancer diagnosis with her 158,000 Instagram followers. However, her passing came as a shock to many on social media, especially when it was revealed that she had been given multiple misdiagnoses. Despite experiencing intense vaginal bleeding, doctors dismissed it as a symptom of fibroids until her condition worsened.
In her Instagram post, Pettway wrote, "I was rushed to the hospital, where they told me that the extreme blood loss was due to 'fibroids.' My gynecologist made it seem like it was a normal and common occurrence. I didn't think much of it, but passing clots the size of a placenta was alarming." She went on to say, "I was told that I couldn't have surgery to remove the 'fibroid' due to my lack of blood supply. Instead, they recommended a biopsy."
The results of the biopsy revealed that Pettway had stage 3 cervical cancer. Her story sheds light on the countless women who have received misdiagnoses, often to their own detriment. According to KKF Health News, women and people of color are 20 to 30% more likely to experience a misdiagnosis, with many of them related to cancer, particularly lung cancer.
Sadly, these issues of proper medical analysis and treatment disproportionately affect Black women. Dr. Sherry Ross, an expert in women's health, believes that the broken medical system is a major contributor to this problem. "We have a broken medical system," she told Yahoo News. "Women of color are even more marginalized in this broken system, facing challenges such as getting timely appointments, having insurance, and being sent to the emergency room."
Pettway leaves behind her husband and their two daughters, but her story has brought attention to the systemic issues that Black women face when it comes to the medical system. It's a reminder that there is still much work to be done in addressing and correcting these issues. As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Black Women's Health Imperative, let us continue to empower and advocate for the health and well-being of Black women everywhere.
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