Gynecologic Cancer Awareness with Evergrow Healing Company

Written by Melissa Schenkman, MPH, MSJ

In recognition of Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, we sat down with Samantha Gonzales-Russell, entrepreneur, three-time cervical cancer survivor, and women's health advocate, to discuss her survivorship journey and her new venture, Evergrow Healing Co.

You recently celebrated five years in remission - congratulations! What have been some of the ups and downs you've experienced during your cancer survivorship journey?

Sam: Thank you so much! Five years is a huge milestone, especially for someone like me who went through a wide range of treatments over many years. It's been surreal to celebrate that and reflect on this up-and-down journey.

Some of the downs that I think any cancer survivor or person who experiences chronic illness faces is navigating your expectations of what life looks like now - adjusting to a new normal and constantly having to shift that while allowing yourself the grace to have that experience. I spent so much time focusing on getting to the other side of treatment, envisioning this big full life. And it absolutely is a full life, don't get me wrong, but it takes practical adjustment - whether that's physical, mental, or emotional. I find myself always learning, always readjusting, always offering myself some extra compassion to get through those moments.

What has surprised you most about your survivorship journey?

Sam: Two things have really surprised me. First, just how hard survivorship can be. I don't mean I'm not grateful to experience it - I know I'm lucky to be in the situation I'm in. But navigating the emotional struggles, processing medical trauma, and finding new ways to do everyday things is a surprising struggle. I do my best to allow myself to have that process, even if I'm not always great at it.

On the opposite end, I'm very surprised at what I've been able to turn my experience into. I wouldn't have imagined I'd be able to sit and talk on a health podcast and people would want to hear about my experience. To think that you can go through all of this in the thick of treatment and diagnosis, then come out on the other end and use it for purpose, education, and to help others not feel alone - that's been pretty mind-blowing.

Why do you think advocacy work becomes such an important part of the healing journey for young cancer survivors?

Sam: As patients, we have a front-row seat to what it's like to navigate the healthcare system as a woman in America. We can see what helps our patient community, and our experiences can really provide the needed change for how this experience will be for patients after us.

There's also a vulnerability component to talking about gynecologic health and women's health. Even if I'm feeling that hesitation, it's important to have these conversations. They allow women to have that freedom and space to talk about their bodies and their health, and to put ourselves first - something we don't do enough of.

Tell us about your new venture, Evergrow Healing Company. What inspired you to start it?

Sam: Evergrow is my passion project that's been years in the making. It really was born out of my own experiences. Navigating insurance isn't easy, treatment decisions aren't easy, and finding support in our communities is challenging. There's so much to figure out.

Evergrow is a social club where folks who want to address whole person health - the emotional, mental, and physical parts of our living - can have the community and tools to recover in a way that benefits them. Our goal for the next year is to have more in-person events and gatherings where people can connect with health experts. We want to bridge the gap so everyone feels empowered to live a healthy and full life.

What are your future plans for Evergrow Healing Company?

Sam: The sky is the limit! I'm always looking to lend my voice to benefit future healthcare, and that will go hand in hand with Evergrow. I hope there are opportunities for us to gather as a community and shape the future of healthcare to benefit patients across the board.

We're also looking at hosting virtual events and workshops. So much of my advocacy work stems from the fact that sometimes clinicians speak one language and patients speak another. It would benefit everyone if we could all get on the same page. Whether it's insights from gynecologic professionals, mental health experts, or integrative health specialists - if someone wants to better themselves and their lifestyle, I'm happy to connect with them.

What message would you like to leave listeners with about gynecologic cancer awareness?

Sam: It's incredibly important to talk about it. I know it can feel really uncomfortable, but that's how we get a handle on these diseases. When we have these conversations, go to our appointments, and ask questions of our doctors, we equip ourselves with the needed tools and knowledge to navigate this experience in the best way possible.

Cervical cancer in particular is one of the few cancers that is preventable with vaccination. Unfortunately, not as many people know about that because we're not talking about it enough. It's understandably stigmatized, but that just goes back to the point - let's talk about it. We deserve to put our health first. We deserve to put ourselves first and have the freedom to exist and discuss our bodies and our health. These are normal health things - let's continue to normalize these conversations.

Sam and her husband proudly holding the January 2025 official proclamation of Cervical Cancer Awareness Month for the city of Las Vegas.

Any final advice for young cancer survivors?

Sam: Give yourself the space and compassion to experience this process fully, because it's not easy. Just because we're younger doesn't mean it's any easier - in fact, there are certain parts of life that make it more difficult to go through this in a younger chapter of your life.

My advice is to stop being so hard on yourself, be kinder to yourself, and have some patience and grace. Going through cancer for anybody is difficult, and I think we're all better off if we can give those things to ourselves.

 Want to hear more from Sam? Check out the YMyHealth podcast on your favorite streaming platforms and YouTube!