Erica Wheeler on Honoring Her Mom and Protecting Women from Cervical Cancer
Preventive care does not always feel urgent. That’s why cervical cancer screening can quietly move to the bottom of a long list of things we plan to do “later.” But delaying screening can have serious consequences. That reality was top of mind when I sat down with professional basketball player Erica Wheeler to talk about losing her mom to cervical cancer and why early detection matters.
By Michelle Janisch, Vice President of Marketing, Diagnostic Solutions
Erica’s mom died in 2012 when she was just a junior in college. That loss now drives her advocacy. “Had I known any information about cervical cancer, things could be a lot different,” she said.
For Erica, prevention is a way to honor her mother’s legacy. She’s using her platform to remind women that prevention and screening matters, and that showing up for your health is one of the most powerful things you can do. That is why she chose to partner with Hologic for the Ultimate Defense campaign, which launched during Cervical Health Awareness Month.
“The moment my team said I had the opportunity to talk about cervical cancer and how to prevent it, I was all in,” she said. “I’m in a position to honor my mom. It’s a no-brainer for me.”
Hearing Erica say that reinforced for me why this work matters: awareness and education truly change outcomes. Our Ultimate Defense campaign in the U.S. aims to increase awareness about the importance of routine cervical cancer screening and encourage women to talk with their healthcare providers about staying up to date with recommended care. It also builds on Hologic’s longstanding commitment to champion women’s health through education, innovation and partnership.
Too many women are not getting screened
The incidence of cervical cancer in the U.S. had steadily declined for decades due to the success of screening and vaccination.1,2 However, in recent years, cervical cancer rates have increased in select populations.3
This is especially concerning knowing that cervical cancer is largely preventable and treatable, yet rates are rising, in part, because many women are not getting screened as often as recommended.4 Effectively addressing underscreening requires a multi-pronged approach that starts with awareness and patient education to boost screening participation and follow-up on any abnormal results.
“You can get busy, things can get put off,” Erica said, sharing with me her mother’s experience as a single parent of three. “I can imagine how many things she put off. I’m just here to encourage women, to say, don’t put this off, because it can escalate very quickly.”
Why we built Ultimate Defense
Ultimate Defense was created to spark conversations. Drawing on the fundamentals of basketball, where a strong defense can change the outcome of the game, we designed the campaign to encourage women to think of cervical cancer screening as their ultimate defense against cervical disease.
Cervical cancer can be prevented through regular screening. Current guidelines recommend Pap testing every three years for women ages 21to 29, and Pap + HPV co-testing every five years for women ages 30 to 65.5 Together, Pap and HPV testing can detect up to 95% of cervical cancers.6,7
“Knowledge is everything,” said Erica. “But if you don’t know, you don’t know.”
Our goal with Ultimate Defense is to close that knowledge gap by meeting women where they are. The campaign includes a public service announcement featuring Erica, social and digital content and national media engagement, all pointing to YourUltimateDefense.com — a resource designed to simplify information about screening and spark informed conversations with healthcare providers.
The power of vulnerability and a call to action
One of the most powerful themes in my conversation with Erica was vulnerability.
“I think the biggest thing is being vulnerable,” she said. “Most people don’t want to talk about certain things. I’m the biggest advocate of being vulnerable and having these tough conversations. Of letting people know that no matter how busy you get, don’t put this off.”
Joining the Ultimate Defense campaign was not a casual decision for her: it was a commitment.
“I would advocate for this campaign 100 times, every time,” she told me. “I want cervical cancer to be a thing of the past…please, go get your Pap and HPV testing so we can prevent this.”
At Hologic, that’s our purpose. We work to ensure women have the knowledge and confidence they need to stay one step ahead of cervical cancer, and to make their health nonnegotiable.
Together with Erica, our message is simple: talk to your healthcare provider, understand your screening options and prioritize your health. And if you can, encourage other women in your life to do the same. With the right information and action, we can make stories like Erica’s far less common.