Trust Your Gut
Early Detection Saves Lives
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A platform rooted in advocacy, education, and lived experience that is dedicated to raising awareness for stomach cancer and empowering people to advocate for their health.
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After being diagnosed with stomach precancer at age 27, I learned firsthand how important it is to listen to your body, even when you are dismissed.
Now, I am on a mission to help others recognize the signs, speak up in medical spaces, and spread awareness about the importance of early detection and self advocacy.
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How to Use These Resources
These organizations offer education, support, and advocacy tools. But you are always your best advocate. Use these resources to ask better questions, seek second opinions, and feel empowered in your healthcare journey.
Stomach Cancer Education & Support
No Stomach For Cancer
Education, prevention, research, and patient advocacy focused specifically on stomach cancer.Debbie’s Dream Foundation
Patient navigation, educational webinars, and support resources for those affected by stomach cancer.American Cancer Society
Clear overviews of symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and survivorship.
Advocating for Your Health
Patient Advocate Foundation
Tools and guidance for navigating healthcare systems, insurance, and medical decision-making.Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Practical guides on how to ask questions, understand test results, and prepare for doctor visits.
Health Equity & Latinx Health Resources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Data and educational materials on cancer risk, prevention, and health disparities.National Alliance for Hispanic Health
Culturally responsive health education and advocacy resources.NIH National Cancer Institute
Research-backed information on cancer disparities and early detection.
Screening & Prevention Information
Mayo Clinic
Easy-to-understand explanations of endoscopies, GI symptoms, and digestive health.Cleveland Clinic
Digestive health education, symptom checklists, and when to seek further testing.
Mental & Emotional Support
Cancer Support Community
Free emotional support groups, counseling, and educational workshops.Mental Health America
Support resources for navigating anxiety, stress, and trauma related to health scares.
“If my story encourages even one person to ask another question, request another test, or seek a second opinion, then it is worth sharing.”
Trust Your Gut: A 30-Day Awareness and Wellness Journal
More than just a journal, this is a tool for self-advocacy.
I created the Trust Your Gut Journal after my own experience navigating a delayed diagnosis. It's designed to help you track symptoms, notice patterns, organize questions, and walk into appointments feeling more prepared and confident.
Whether you're searching for answers or simply want to be more in tune with your body, this journal is here to remind you that your experiences matter and your voice deserves to be heard.
Plus, a portion of every purchase is donated to support stomach cancer awareness and advocacy efforts.
Because early detection saves lives.
MY STORY
In October 2023, I went to urgent care for a lingering cough I could not shake. I assumed it was something simple, maybe a stronger inhaler or allergy medication. I never imagined that visit would begin a journey that would change my life.
I was referred to a gastroenterologist after being told I might have acid reflux. At my appointment, the nurse practitioner reviewed my chart, noted my history of chronic asthma, and quickly attributed my cough to my lungs rather than my stomach. My concerns were dismissed. She offered an endoscopy, but it felt more routine than necessary in her eyes.
I almost canceled the procedure. I questioned myself. I wondered if I was overreacting.
But something deep inside told me not to ignore the feeling. I decided to move forward with the endoscopy, just to be sure.
That decision likely saved my life.
The results showed precancerous changes in my stomach lining. Had I ignored my instincts or accepted being dismissed, I might never have known. My doctor later explained that within a few years, those changes could have developed into stomach cancer.
I was stunned. I was 27. I was active. I appeared healthy. Yet stomach cancer is often not detected until it is advanced because the symptoms are subtle and easy to explain away.
That moment changed everything.
I created Trust Your Gut to remind others, especially young people, especially women, and especially Latinx communities, that your voice matters in medical spaces. Your concerns deserve to be taken seriously. Your instincts are not dramatic. They are data.
Too many people are dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told to wait and see. For communities like mine, the risks are even greater due to disparities in access and cultural bias within healthcare systems.
This platform is my response. It is rooted in education, awareness, and advocacy. If my story encourages even one person to ask another question, request another test, or seek a second opinion, then it is worth sharing.
You know your body better than anyone.
Trust your gut.