Why I’m Fighting to Prevent Cervical Cancer in the Latina Community
Key takeaways:
Claudia Perez-Favela, 45, was treated for human papillomavirus and cervical dysplasia in 2018.
As a Latina, Claudia says she faced cultural stigma and judgment around her diagnosis.
Today she advocates for accessible gynecologic healthcare in the Latina community.
Claudia Perez-Favela vividly recalls the fear she felt upon learning she had cervical dysplasia — abnormal cells on her cervix that could lead to cancer if left untreated. When she was told she had it, she began to cry.
“In the Latino community, cancer is a big word, and we always relate it with death,” Claudia says. She had lost her mother to ovarian cancer, so she braced for the worst.
Today, at 45 and cancer free, Claudia is a dedicated advocate for gynecologic health in her community. A mother and a college student in Imperial, California, she’s fighting to break down the barriers that keep many Latinas from essential care.
How stigma and cultural barriers affected her health
Claudia didn’t visit a gynecologist until she was 24, a delay she says is common in her culture.
“It’s taboo to go to the gynecologist because it’s like you are accepting you are having sex,” she says. She adds that many Latinas see an OB-GYN only when they’re pregnant.
When she visited a gynecologist for the first time, it was because another doctor recommended it. She had gone 6 months without a period, followed by heavy bleeding. She says her doctor suspected a hormonal imbalance. The gynecologist confirmed that she had polycystic ovary syndrome, which accounted for her symptoms.
For several years, Claudia saw a gynecologist across the border in Tijuana, Mexico. It was less expensive, she says. She also felt more comfortable with a doctor in her native country.
But when her husband got a job with better insurance, she decided to visit a gynecologist in California. At her first appointment there, she tested positive for HPV (human papillomavirus). Soon afterward, in April 2018, she learned that she had an aggressive form of HPV, which had caused cervical dysplasia. Without treatment, it could lead to cervical cancer.
Should you get tested for HPV? Here’s a primer on human papillomavirus (HPV), who should get tested, and how.
What’s the difference between HPV and herpes? HPV and herpes are two different viruses that can cause sexually transmitted infections.
Who needs to get a cervical cancer screening? A pap smear or an HPV test can detect this. Read more about cervical cancer screening.
When the nurse practitioner gave her the diagnosis, Claudia says, “she did it with a lot of stigma, a lot of bias.” She misinformed Claudia that HPV was always caused by unprotected sex with multiple partners. Claudia protested that she had only been with her husband. Then she says the nurse practitioner told her, “Tell your husband to be more careful if he’s cheating.”
Claudia now knows the information she received wasn’t accurate. The causes of HPV can be complex. But at the time, she says the nurse practitioner’s words devastated her.
A radical hysterectomy to prevent ovarian cancer
Claudia’s doctor recommended a radical hysterectomy to remove her uterus, cervix, and portions of her vagina. She says the doctor pushed back against her request to also remove her ovaries. He didn’t want her to go into early menopause, she says. Claudia argued that early menopause was better than ovarian cancer, and he agreed to do the procedure.
At first, Claudia says she kept quiet about her diagnosis. Her husband, children, and close friends supported her. But she worried some relatives would judge her.
“A lot of my family still lives in Mexico, and they don’t understand,” she says. In a community that avoided conversations about cancer, she says, it was challenging to find support.
Finding support and sisterhood online
Claudia began searching online for answers and connections. That’s how she found Cervivor, a cervical cancer advocacy group. Through Cervivor Español and online forums, she connected with survivors, learned accurate information about HPV, and found healing support.
Her Cervivor friends encouraged her to trust her husband when he said he hadn’t cheated. Her marriage began to heal.
She attended the organization’s Cervivor School, where she learned tools for sharing her story. It was a powerful turning point.
“I found my mission,” she says.
Advocating for better healthcare access in the Latina community
Now, Claudia actively promotes gynecologic care access for Latinas. She works with Every Woman Counts, a nonprofit that provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings to underserved Californians. Her advocacy has also taken her to Sacramento and Washington, D.C., representing the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network.
In May 2025, Claudia will graduate from college with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. She plans to pursue a graduate degree, possibly in public health, to continue her mission.
Fighting gynecologic cancers in the Latina community
Because of the high rates of gynecologic cancers among Latinas, Claudia says she wants to empower her community to prioritize prevention. Here are her top recommendations.
1. Encourage regular screenings
Claudia stresses the importance of Pap smears and other regular gynecologic exams. She encourages everyone to keep up with their recommended tests, including mammograms and colonoscopies.
2. Promote HPV vaccination for all genders
Claudia advocates for HPV vaccination to protect against cancers related to the virus. She stresses that both boys and girls should be vaccinated early, ideally at age 11 or 12.
3. Challenge cultural stigmas around gynecologic care
Claudia encourages parents to normalize gynecologist visits and have open discussions about health.
“We need to change the narrative,” she says.
4. Reduce language barriers in healthcare
Language barriers often prevent Spanish-speaking Latinas from receiving quality care, Claudia says. She would like to see more bilingual health professionals and interpreters in her area so parents don’t have to rely on their children to translate during sensitive appointments.
5. Prioritize self-care
Claudia also encourages Latinas to advocate for their health, seek out trustworthy providers, and be proactive with their well-being.
“We always care for others, and we leave our self-care for last,” she says. “If we want our families to be well, we need to prioritize our own health. It starts with us.”
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