#94 How Persistence Can Save Your Life
Jan 05, 2026January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, and I can’t think of a more powerful or personal way to begin this year than by sharing the story that shaped everything I now teach and believe.
If you’ve ever sat in one of my workshops, worked with me 1:1, listened to the podcast, or have been a subscriber to the Shift for Wellness community, you know I speak often about the body, the breath, and the nervous system. And I really get excited to open the door all the way to the moment my wellness journey truly began when everything cracked wide open because I’ve been in the company of too many people who’ve stayed quiet
Who didn’t schedule the appointment
Who feared the worst and hoped it would go away
Who didn’t want to question their doctor, or rock the boat, or had the mindset that they’d be “dramatic.”
I’ve seen what silence can cost us.
I also know the power of trusting your own body, trusting your voice, and not handing your truth over to someone else’s opinion - no matter how confident or credentialed they were. And that’s where this story really begins.
In August of 2007, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer.
What led me there wasn’t dramatic at first. It was quiet, slow, and like so many women’s experiences, it was brushed off.
For over 18 months, I experienced periodic hemorrhaging.
It was inconvenient.
Concerning.
But tests kept coming back inconclusive.
I was told it might be perimenopause.
That everything looked “normal.”
But I knew my body, and I kept saying what so many women say quietly: “Something’s not right.”
Eventually, after pushing for more answers, I was referred to Dr. Thad Denehy at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center. More tests, more scans, two biopsies, and finally, a diagnosis: cervical cancer.
And here’s what I want to say clearly:
I wasn’t afraid. I didn’t fall apart.
I simply said, “Okay. We’ll deal with it.”
I was lucky. The cancer was still confined to my cervix.
Because I trusted my instincts and kept speaking up, there were treatment options.
My team: Dr. Denehy, Dr. Raquel Wagman, the radiation techs, the nurses, the kind souls who cleaned my room or wheeled me to treatment each day...they didn’t just care for my body. They tended to my spirit.
I was hospitalized twice for week-long chemotherapy infusions. I received both internal and external radiation daily. I wore Depends. I couldn’t always walk. It was messy, exhausting, and deeply humbling. But through it all, I chose to believe I’d be okay. I prayed. I whispered to my spirit. I made silly faces at myself in the mirror just to smile. I reminded my body every day: “You’re going to be okay.”
And I am. 💛
I’ve been cancer-free since my hysterectomy.
But let me be clear, this isn’t a message about "thinking your way out" of a diagnosis, or about positive vibes over medical care.
I have full faith in the treatment I received, and in the extraordinary team of doctors, nurses, and technicians who helped save my life. I am here because of both: expert care and the inner work I chose to do to support myself along the way.
And if you’re someone who is falling apart, who is scared, who hasn’t felt strong or steady, please know, that’s okay too.
You don’t have to be brave every second.
This is just my story, not a blueprint or a standard. You’re allowed to feel it all. You’re allowed to fall apart. That doesn’t make you weak. It makes you human.
What I am here to say is that awareness matters. That your body deserves to be listened to. That when you move through challenge, whether with tears or courage or both, you can still create a sense of grounding.
That’s what the S.H.I.F.T. Method is about.
Self-Acceptance, so you can meet yourself exactly where you are.
Honesty, even when it’s uncomfortable.
Intention, to help guide the way forward.
Faith, in your body and your process.
And Thankfulness, for the little victories, the helpers, the hard-earned perspective.
🎥 Watch My Story
This video by RWJBarnabas Health shares my journey through cancer with more heart than I could’ve imagined. I’m honored to share it with you:
🔗 Watch it here
But today isn’t about the video, it’s about why I’m choosing to continue to tell this story.
Why I'm Sharing This Now?
Because someone out there is still being brushed off.
Because someone is ignoring symptoms.
Because someone thinks they don’t have time for that appointment.
And because I want you to know:
You have a right to advocate for your body.
You have a right to speak up, even when it's inconvenient.
And you deserve to be cared for fully, compassionately, and completely.
This blog marks the first post of 2026. As we step into the new year, I’m returning to the root of why I do what I do:
To help and teacher others how to release their stressors, rewire their nervous systems, and remember that healing isn’t about perfection; it’s about presence.
So here's to:
- Sitting still for one minute.
- Listening to your gut.
- Speaking up even when it's hard.
- And remembering that even in your darkest season, you’re not alone.
Cancer didn’t define me. It refined me.
And now, I get to help others refine themselves.
Healing is not a solo journey, and you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
If you've got some stories to share or questions to ask, I'd love to hear them. Your insights and experiences might just be the spark that another parent needs to hear. Leave a comment or DM me on Instagram at @jenncaputo because when we lift each other up, we all grow wiser.
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