Local cancer survivor shares message of hope on National Cancer Survivors Day

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) - A cancer diagnosis can change a person’s life in an instant. On National Cancer Survivors Day, one local survivor is sharing her message of hope after spending years in treatment and recovery.

For many cancer survivors, every day is a reminder of how far they’ve come. On National Cancer Survivors Day, patients, families and caregivers came together to celebrate life, resilience and hope.

For Heidi Walker, National Cancer Survivors Day is a reminder of just how far she’s come.

Walker was diagnosed with stage one cervical cancer in October 2020. Nearly five years later, she recently completed her final Keytruda treatment and is preparing for another scan this week.

“I just want people to know that there is life after cancer. There is hope after cancer,” Walker said. Walker has a son in high school. She said the support of her husband and family helped her through treatment.

“I had the support of my husband. He was there for me. My family was there for me. And I thought, I have to be there for my son. Cancer is not going to beat me down,” Walker said.

Walker faced a battle that tested her physically and emotionally.

“I am going to do whatever is necessary. But that fear, at first, was almost stifling, you know. It was very scary,” Walker said.

“You don’t go through cancer by yourself. You need your family, your friends, your doctors and your nurses. It really takes everyone working together,” she said.

Walker continued working during most of her treatment, though she took a month off because of pain. Walker says her experience inspired her to advocate for better care for women everywhere.

“I had to find purpose. And so as long as I was able to find purpose, I was able to keep going. And so that really is what I think pushed me and helped push me through is finding that purpose to live and to go on,” Walker said.

Walker says surviving cancer has given her a new appreciation for life and for every milestone she gets to celebrate.

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