Positivity and Support: How Dianne Navigated Two Cancer Diagnoses
When many people make their beds in the morning, they probably consider it a mundane, tedious task — if they even do it at all. But Dianne Harris views making her bed as a privilege that highlights her ability to move around and the fact that she is alive.
In May 2022, Dianne was diagnosed with endometrial cancer of the uterus at the age of 64. After undergoing a total hysterectomy and 6 rounds of radiation, she was considered to be in remission. But this would not be her last experience with cancer.
Dianne — who was an emergency medical technician for nearly 30 years, a registered medical assistant, and a graduate of practical nursing school in 2014 — knows the toll medical situations can take on a person and their family. With cancer, she experienced it firsthand.
In more ways than one, cancer has become a central theme in her life — one that has made her become stronger, remain positive, and connect with others in similar situations.
Two Cancer Diagnoses and Treatment Plans: Dianne’s Journey With Cancer
Cancer can impact anyone, and more than half of Americans say they or an immediate relative has been diagnosed with cancer. For some, including Dianne, cancer strikes more than once.
When Dianne was first diagnosed with cancer, she says it was a shock. “It was very terrifying. There’s a sense of doom,” she explains. “You can't help thinking about what's going to happen and what you haven't done in life. It's just terrifying.”
Dianne’s treatment plan was led by Dr. Amelia Jernigan, Associate Professor of Gynecologic Oncology with LSU Health New Orleans and Gynecologic Oncologist at University Medical Center. It involved a total hysterectomy (a procedure to remove the uterus and cervix) and 6 rounds of radiation. Radiation harnesses the power of high-energy waves or particles to destroy cancer cells.
After completing her treatment, Dianne was considered to be in remission — until a little over a year later.
In September 2023, Dianne was diagnosed with another form of cancer called peritoneal carcinomatosis, which was a result of cancer spreading to her peritoneal cavity (the area in the abdomen that houses the stomach, intestines, and liver). This time, she was told she would need a total of 6 rounds of chemotherapy, which makes use of strong chemicals to kill cancer cells. But after 5 rounds of chemo, her body couldn’t handle anymore. “All of my lab levels were dropping, and I was getting too weak,” she explains.
Fortunately, her scans showed the cancer cells were disappearing. “By the time I got to the 5th cycle, the cancer cells were almost gone,” she says. As a result, they didn’t need to complete that 6th round.
While Dianne was elated by this good news, she wasn’t surprised. In fact, she says she already knew she was beating the cancer. Grounded in her faith and prayer, she believed she was already healed. “I was excited,” she says. “But then again, I prayed for it, and I already knew.”
Dianne says she even knew what date she would be in remission. Just a few months later after stopping chemo, in January 2024, Dianne’s care team informed her she was officially in remission. “I picked that date and believed it was my heal date,” she says.
Finding Support On Her Cancer Journey
Despite Dianne’s positive thinking and strength throughout her journey, cancer can take a toll physically, emotionally, and financially.
Throughout Dianne’s first experience with cancer, she was enrolled in a clinical trial called the SISTER study, which provides social support for Black women with endometrial cancer. This group helped her stay positive, allowing her to “talk with like-minded women on the same journey,” she says.
She also leaned on her loved ones, especially her son, Malcolm, and some close friends.
Battling one round of cancer is challenging. But when Dianne was facing cancer for the second time, she knew she needed some extra support.
While she was no longer eligible for the SISTER study, she found another social support network through the Endometrial Cancer Action Network for African-Americans (ECANA). ECANA guides women through various aspects of cancer, from nutrition to emotions to everything in between.
She also relied more heavily on her care team, including Dr. Jernigan. “Her team is very informative,” she says. “You can talk to them, and they're patient. She has other patients and stuff to deal with, but she still takes that time to spend with you.”
This was apparent every time Dianne was in the waiting room, where it was common to overhear other patients talking about how much they love Dr. Jernigan. “She’s like a celebrity out there,” she laughs.
Still, Dianne knew she needed more support this time around — something she didn’t hesitate to ask for. “The second time, I was like, ‘No, I'm not doing this by myself,’” she says. “I need a nutritionist and social worker. I need everything — give me whatever.”
Dianne’s social worker became a wealth of information and resources, pointing her to various support systems to ease the physical, emotional, and financial burdens of cancer. For instance, her social worker connected her with a food pantry and provided her with a walker when she was having trouble moving around.
Even with every resource available, cancer is no small obstacle. To combat this, Dianne turned to her faith and positive thinking. “The whole journey has to be positive thinking,” she says. “You can't dwell on negatives. You really have to put negatives out.”
Helping Other Patients Navigate Cancer
Diane’s experiences with cancer have made her a pro — something she doesn’t wish on anyone. Yet, millions of others are faced with similar journeys. Dianne has found a calling in helping those people by being a resource herself.
Currently, she’s serving as a patient advocate for ECANA. She’s been involved in informational videos guiding patients through detecting, diagnosing, and monitoring endometrial cancer in diverse populations. She’s also helped with cancer awareness programs at her church.
Dianne encourages other patients to advocate for themselves through the process. “Be an advocate for yourself because the doctors — they're gonna come in and they're gonna tell you the diagnosis, but they only have so much time, and they're trying to stay within that time limit,” she says. “Sometimes you gotta make them slow down.”
She says she learned to do this by coming prepared with written questions to ask right then and there. “It’s like a friend who says, ‘Let's keep in touch,’ and you don't do it,” she explains. “But with the doctors, they say, just give me a call, call us if you need to.”
Instead of waiting, she recommends asking questions during appointments. “Get them while they're right there in front of you,” she says.
Moving Forward Toward a Cancer-Free Life
Dianne’s journey with cancer is not over. While she’s considered to be in remission, she’ll remain on immunotherapy treatment — which alters a person’s immune system to attack cancer cells — for a while. She’ll also continue to be closely monitored by her care team.
Still, she has a lot to look forward to. In addition to supporting other patients affected by cancer, she plans to focus on her health by exercising more and prioritizing her nutrition. She also plans to travel, hopefully by taking a cruise with her son.
Meanwhile, she’s focusing on appreciating the little things in life, like making her bed. “Being able to wake up now and make up my bed — there are people that can't do that,” she says. “I appreciate being able to do little things like that.”
Cancer has undoubtedly taken a toll on Dianne and her family. By staying positive and finding purpose in her journey, she has not only become stronger herself, but she’s also helped others along the way.
CALL TO ACTION/COMMENT/SHARE: Read other survivor stories and their experiences getting cancer care at LSU LCMC Health Cancer Center.