Rena's Story

As a wedding and event planner, Rena is typically prepared for anything. But when she received a cancer diagnosis before the age of 30, her own life plans were quickly derailed. It was 2009 when she visited her gynecologist because something just didn’t feel right. Shortly after, Rena received her diagnosis: cervical cancer, stage 1B2. “My first thought was that she had it wrong. Cancer wasn't a part of my life,” she recalls. But she needed a plan. “My gynecologist recommended a couple of oncologists and I really just had an amazing connection with one of the doctors here at Moffitt and his nursing staff.”

Rena agreed with her Moffitt doctor’s plan, which included aggressive, curative treatment of concurrent radiation and chemotherapy. The plan also catered to Rena’s desires for the future. “I had not started a family yet so my treatment plan also had to include some time for fertility treatments.”

After treatment, things seemed to be back on track. Then, in 2012, on her 31st birthday, Rena was faced with a recurrence. This time, the proposed treatment would include major surgery – a pelvic exenteration – which involves the removal of all of the female organs, the bladder, colon and other organs in the pelvic cavity. Rena was in disbelief. She traveled all over the country to find an alternative solution. But in the end, she knew the radical surgery was her best option. “When I finally made the decision to have the surgery I knew that it needed to be at Moffitt, honestly. That's where I feel the most comfortable.”

Rena’s Moffitt surgeons were able to give her the best possible outcome and worked relentlessly to ensure her life after cancer would be as normal as possible. Today, Rena is healthy and cancer-free. While she adjusts to the changes that come with her life post-surgery, she’s putting her planner nature to work through a non-profit called The Teal Recovery Project, which benefits women battling cervical cancer. The project was started by some of Rena’s friends for her own benefit. Today, she’s proud to pay it forward. And her Moffitt team is happy to join in. “My nurses and physicians bring everyone out to our events. And just seeing them at something outside of Moffitt is so unbelievably special to me.”