Health
Ohio nurse and mom beats cervical cancer as expert shares warning signs you should never ignore
Each year, about 4,000 women die of cervical cancer in the U.S. and around 11,500 new cases are diagnosed. The vast majority of them are caused by HPV (Human Papillomavirus).
Bridgette Rillo, a registered nurse and mother of two in Dayton, Ohio, was just 35 when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2018.
Now 41, she is aiming to raise awareness of the link between HPV and cervical cancer.
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Before Rillo’s diagnosis, she was running a few months late for her yearly screening.
“As busy moms, we tend to put our care to the side,” she told Fox News Digital. “I just kind of put it off because I was busy with my kids and patients.”
Bridgette Rillo, a NICU nurse and mother of two, is pictured with her husband at the Boonshoft Museum in Dayton during a fundraising event. (Bridgette Rillo)
After the screening, her doctor called and said the results were “abnormal” and that Rillo was positive for HPV. It’s the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States, according to the CDC.
After further tests, doctors confirmed that Rillo had cervical cancer.
It was Stage 1A2, which means the cancer was between 3 and 5 millimeters deep.
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“I did not have any symptoms, so it was definitely not expected when I got the call,” she told Fox News Digital.
“All of my screenings prior to that were fine.”
As the doctors explained to Rillo, HPV can lay dormant in the body for years until something triggers it to activate and become positive.
In addition to cervical cancer, the Human Papillomavirus can also cause anal, vulvar, vaginal, mouth/throat and penile cancers. (iStock)
After receiving various treatments, Rillo was declared cancer-free.
Now that she has reached her five-year milestone, she will only need to get regular yearly screenings.
As a NICU nurse and busy mom, Rillo said her HPV and cervical cancer experience has changed how she prioritizes her own health and wellness.
“If I had not gone back to the doctor, my story could have been much different.”
“In order to take care of other people, you have to take care of yourself,” she said. “It’s important that women go for their yearly screenings and get any other screenings their doctors recommend.”
“My last screening just a year and four months prior was negative,” Rillo added. “If I hadn’t gone back to the doctor, my story could have been much different.”
Connection between HPV and cervical cancer
For 90% of women with HPV, the virus clears on its own within two years without any symptoms or treatment — but for the remainder, it can cause health problems that include genital warts and various types of cancer, per the CDC.
In most cases, HPV does not cause any symptoms.
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In addition to cervical cancer, the virus can also cause anal, vulvar, vaginal, mouth/throat and penile cancers, according to Dr. Pari Ghodsi, a board-certified OB/GYN and Merck spokesperson who practices in Los Angeles.
“Anyone who is sexually active can be at risk of becoming infected with HPV,” Ghodsi told Fox News Digital. “There’s no way of knowing who will clear the virus and who won’t.”
This image provided by Merck in October 2018 shows a vial and packaging for the Gardasil 9 vaccine, which is designed to protect against HPV. (AP Images)
“That’s why it’s really important to practice prevention and speak to your doctor about ways to prevent HPV-related cancers and to undergo HPV screening.”
The average age of cervical cancer diagnosis is 50, but patients can range from age 20 to 80, the doctor noted.
“There’s no way of knowing who will clear the virus and who won’t.”
“But it can take a long time for the HPV to progress into cervical cancer — it can take years or even decades,” Ghodsi said.
There is a vaccine available to help prevent HPV, which is administered in two or three doses depending on age.
The CDC recommends that all females start the vaccine series at age 11 or 12.
Each year, about 4,000 women die of cervical cancer in the U.S. and around 11,500 new cases are diagnosed. (iStock)
“At any age, having a new sex partner is a risk factor for getting a new HPV infection,” the CDC states on its website. “People who are in a long-term, mutually monogamous relationship are not likely to get a new HPV infection.”
Ghodsi recommends that everyone speak to their physician about ways to prevent HPV from progressing to cancer.
Warning signs of cervical cancer
Although HPV typically has no symptoms, cervical cancer can come with some warning signs as it begins to progress.
Valentina Milanova, a women’s health expert and founder of gynecological health company Daye in the U.K., emphasized the need to be aware of these five often-overlooked red flags.
1. Abnormal bleeding
This is one of the most common symptoms of cervical cancer, Milanova noted.
“It can manifest as bleeding after sexual intercourse, between menstrual periods or post-menopause,” she told Fox News Digital.
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“Any unusual bleeding should be reported to a health care professional immediately.”
2. Pelvic pain
Unexplained pain in the pelvic region — the lowest part of the abdomen and pelvis — is another warning sign of cervical cancer.
Unexplained pain in the pelvic region — the lowest part of the abdomen and pelvis — is a warning sign of cervical cancer. (iStock)
“This pain can often be dismissed or attributed to other causes, but persistent pelvic discomfort with no apparent reason should be investigated,” Milanova said.
3. Pain during sexual activity
Discomfort or pain during intimacy can be a symptom of cervical cancer, the doctor warned.
“It’s important to communicate with your health care provider about any pain experienced during sexual activity,” said Milanova.
4. Unusual discharge
Changes in vaginal discharge, such as an increase in volume, changes in consistency or a foul odor, can be indicative of cervical cancer, the doctor said.
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“Any significant changes in vaginal discharge should be discussed with a health care provider,” she told Fox News Digital.
5. Urinary problems
Advanced cervical cancer can cause urinary symptoms such as frequent urination, difficulty or pain during urination, or blood in the urine, according to Milanova.
Regular screenings and early detection are the best means of improving cervical cancer outcomes, experts say. (iStock)
“While these symptoms can be caused by conditions other than cervical cancer, they should not be ignored,” she said.
It’s crucial to consult with a health care professional if you experience any of those symptoms, Milanova said.
“Regular screenings and early detection are our best tools in the fight against cervical cancer,” she added.
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The key to feeling better in a fast, overstimulated world might be surprisingly simple: Live a little more like your grandparents.
A growing social media trend, dubbed “nonnamaxxing,” draws inspiration from the slower, more intentional rhythms associated with an Italian grandmother.
The lifestyle is often linked to activities like preparing home-cooked meals, spending time outdoors and making meaningful connections.
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“Nonnamaxxing is a 2026 trend that embraces the slower, more intentional lifestyle of an Italian grandmother (a Nonna). Think cooking from scratch, long family meals, daily walks, gardening and less screen time,” Erin Palinski-Wade, a New Jersey-based registered dietitian, told Fox News Digital.
Nonnamaxxing, derived from the name for an Italian grandmother, is a trend that incorporates lifestyle habits hundreds of years in the making. (iStock)
Stepping away from screens and toward real-world interaction can have measurable benefits, according to California-based psychotherapist Laurie Singer.
“We know that interacting with others in person, rather than spending time on screens, significantly improves mental health,” she told Fox News Digital, adding that social media often fuels comparison and lowers self-esteem.
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Living more like previous generations isn’t purely driven by nostalgia. Cooking meals from scratch, for example, has been linked to better nutrition and more mindful eating patterns.
Adopting traditional mealtime habits can improve diet quality and support both physical and mental health, especially when meals are shared regularly with others, Palinski-Wade noted.
One longevity expert stresses that staying healthy isn’t just about food — it’s also about joy and community. (iStock)
There’s also a psychological benefit to slowing down and focusing on one task at a time. Anxiety often stems from unfinished or avoided tasks, Singer noted, and engaging in hands-on activities can counteract that.
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“Nonnamaxxing encourages us to be present around a task, like gardening, baking or knitting, or just taking a mindful walk, that delivers something ‘real,’” she said.
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Palinski-Wade cautions against turning the trend into another source of pressure, noting that a traditional “nonna” lifestyle often assumes a different pace of life.
The key, she said, is adapting the mindset, not replicating it perfectly.
Nonnamaxxing, derived from the name for an Italian grandmother, is a trend that incorporates lifestyle habits hundreds of years in the making. (iStock)
The goal is to reintroduce small, intentional moments that make you feel better.
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That might mean prioritizing a few shared meals each week, taking a walk without your phone or setting aside time for a simple hobby, the expert recommended.
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Singer added, “Having a positive place to escape to, through whatever activities speak to us and make us happy, isn’t generational – it’s human.”
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Feeling lonely may take a toll on older adults’ memory — but it may not speed up cognitive decline, according to a new study.
Researchers from Colombia, Spain and Sweden analyzed data from more than 10,000 adults ages 65 to 94 across 12 European countries and found those who reported higher levels of loneliness did worse on memory tests at the start of the study, according to research published this month in the journal Aging & Mental Health.
Over a seven-year period, however, memory decline occurred at a similar rate regardless of how lonely participants felt.
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“The finding that loneliness significantly impacted memory, but not the speed of decline in memory over time was a surprising outcome,” lead author Dr. Luis Carlos Venegas-Sanabria of the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the Universidad del Rosario said in a statement.
Loneliness may be linked to memory performance in older adults, a new study suggests. (iStock)
“It suggests that loneliness may play a more prominent role in the initial state of memory than in its progressive decline,” Venegas-Sanabria said, adding that the findings highlight the importance of addressing loneliness as a factor in cognitive performance.
The findings add to debate about whether loneliness contributes to dementia risk. While loneliness and social isolation are often considered risk factors for cognitive decline, research results have been mixed.
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The study looked at data from the long-running Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), which tracked 10,217 older adults between 2012 and 2019. Participants were asked to recall words immediately and after a delay to measure memory performance.
Social isolation and loneliness could play a surprising role in cognitive health among seniors. (iStock)
Loneliness was assessed using three questions about how often participants felt isolated, left out or lacking companionship.
About 8% of participants reported high levels of loneliness at the outset. That group tended to be older, more likely to be female and more likely to have conditions such as depression.
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Researchers found that those with higher loneliness had lower scores on both immediate and delayed memory tests at baseline. Still, all groups — regardless of loneliness level — experienced similar declines in memory over time.
The results suggest loneliness may not directly accelerate the progression of memory loss, though it remains linked to poorer cognitive performance overall.
Researchers look at a brain scan at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)
Experts warn, however, that the findings should not be interpreted to mean loneliness is harmless.
“The finding that lonely older adults start with worse memory but don’t decline faster is actually the most interesting part of the paper, and I think it’s easy to misread,” said Jordan Weiss, Ph.D., a scientific advisor and aging expert at Assisted Living Magazine and a professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine.
“It likely means loneliness does its damage earlier in life, well before people show up in a study like this at 65-plus,” Weiss told Fox News Digital.
By older age, long-term social patterns may already be established, making it harder to detect when the effects of loneliness first took hold, an aging expert says. (iStock)
He suggested that by older age, long-term social patterns may already be established, making it harder to detect when the effects of loneliness first took hold.
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“By the time you’re measuring someone in their late 60s, decades of social connection patterns are already baked in,” he said.
Weiss, who was not involved in the research, added that loneliness may coincide with other health conditions, and noted that participants who felt more isolated also had higher rates of depression, high-blood pressure and diabetes. The link, he said, may reflect a cluster of health risks rather than a direct cause.
“While they can go hand-in-hand, it’s not clear that loneliness contributes to dementia,” a psychotherapist says. (iStock)
Amy Morin, a Florida-based psychotherapist and author, said the findings reflect a broader pattern in research on loneliness and brain health, and that the relationship may be more complex than it appears.
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“The evidence shows there’s a link between loneliness and cognitive decline but there’s no direct evidence of a cause and effect relationship,” she said. “So while they can go hand-in-hand, it’s not clear that loneliness contributes to dementia.”
Morin added that loneliness, which can fluctuate, may not be the root of the problem, but rather a symptom of other underlying mental or physical health issues.
Researchers suggested screening for loneliness be incorporated into routine cognitive assessments as one way to support healthy aging. (iStock)
She said staying socially and mentally engaged is crucial for overall brain health.
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“It’s important to be proactive about social activities,” Morin said. “Joining a book club, having coffee with a friend, or attending faith-based services can be a powerful way to maintain connections in older age.”
The researchers also suggested screening for loneliness be incorporated into routine cognitive assessments as one way to support healthy aging.
Fox News Digital reached out to the researchers for comment.
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