Vanessa Diveglia - Cervical Cancer Survivor
Preserving fertility is often a critical concern for women diagnosed with gynecologic cancers and conditions. Understanding how treatment may affect the ability to have children is an important part of the decision-making process between patients and their doctors. It was especially true for Vanessa Diveglia and her husband, Gene, during their treatment journey.
In early 2016, Vanessa scheduled a long-overdue routine visit to her OB-GYN, something she had postponed amid a busy chapter in her life. Two years earlier, she had relocated to the U.S. from Colombia, South America, married Gene, and the two settled in the Tampa Bay area. They bought a home and began planning for a future family.
During her visit, the OB-GYN asked Vanessa when she last had a Pap test. With her response of ‘I’m not sure,’ the doctor recommended she have it done. With that, the visit became the beginning of a new story.
Just as the couple was preparing to head out of town for a weekend getaway, Vanessa’s physician called to inform her that the Pap test results showed signs of abnormal cells in her cervix. It was one week before her 38th birthday.
They met with her doctor, who explained the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma in situ of the cervix, a pre-invasive form of cervical cancer in which abnormal cells are found in the lining of the cervix with a strong potential to develop and spread if not treated.
“I got scared and felt sad; I was just beginning this new stage of my life,” Vanessa recalls. “ My doctor told us not to worry and assured us she wouldn’t allow us to leave her office without a plan.”
That plan involved a referral to Dr. Jessica Stine, gynecologic oncologist with Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS), who also serves as medical director of gynecologic oncology for the statewide practice.
“I was able to be seen almost immediately,” Vanessa said. A cone biopsy, a surgical procedure that involves removing a small piece of tissue for examination under a microscope, confirmed the findings.
From the perspective of the woman who always wanted to be a mom, the decisions about their treatment options were difficult. Vanessa said, “Dr. Stine was very supportive. She took the time to explain and help us take everything into account to make the best decision.”
“When discussing surgical options with patients, especially younger women, it’s critical to balance the urgency of treatment with the deeply personal and life-altering implications for fertility. Considering the full spectrum of family planning choices, whether it’s fertility preservation, surrogacy, adoption, or choosing to remain child-free, these decisions deserve thoughtful, compassionate discussion—not an afterthought,” said Dr. Stine.
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Cone biopsy procedures could be performed on an ongoing basis to monitor precancerous changes or tumors in the cervix and remove abnormal tissue if needed. Although generally considered safe, there can be some fertility risk. “Although pregnancy might have still been an available option for me, mentally, waiting for future biopsies with no way of knowing the outcome, made me uncomfortable,” Vanessa says.
The second option—“a very definitive option” as Vanessa describes it—was a total hysterectomy. It would end her ability to conceive. It was the option the couple chose and Vanessa underwent a robotic hysterectomy that June.
“We decided to preserve my life so that we could preserve our desires and dreams, including our dream to have children,” she says.
Following her recovery and confirmation that everything was going well, Vanessa and Gene began the process of adoption. It was a topic they had spoken about even while dating, as both have cousins who are adopted.
That process, too, involved countless decisions and a good share of challenges, including the closure of their chosen adoption agency and delays driven by the Covid-19 pandemic. “It was an emotional roller coaster for both of us,” says Vanessa.
In March 2024 Vanessa and Gene got the news they had met all of the requirements and were approved to adopt two children, siblings, from Vanessa’s home country. After more preparations, they traveled to Colombia and on July 3, 2024, met their daughter, Sofia, age 8, and son, Milan, age 7. Today they are an active foursome. Sofia and Milan are enthusiastic second and third-graders (and “the perfect age for us,” their mom says), Gene continues to run their tech business with support from Vanessa part-time.
“For some, like Vanessa, choosing a surgical path that prioritized their health meant letting go of fertility—but not of the dream of having a family,” said Dr. Stine. “I couldn’t be happier that she found peace in making the decision that was best for her health, and now, she has a beautiful family through adoption. It’s a powerful reminder that there are many meaningful paths to parenthood.”
With Mother’s Day approaching, Vanessa took time to reflect on the entire experience, which she labels “a blessing.” Her advice to others? “Trust God. Even before the diagnosis, we knew God had a plan for us.”
She says, “Making babies biologically is just one way to have a child. So many of us have much love to give and, like Sofia and Milan, there are so many kids waiting to receive it.”
Happy Mother’s Day, Vanessa. We feel the love.
