Jessica Pettway, a 36-year-old beauty influencer, has died from cervical cancer after receiving multiple incorrect medical diagnoses, shedding light on the persistent racial disparities in healthcare. Pettway’s sister confirmed her death on Instagram, nearly nine months after the YouTuber revealed doctors had misdiagnosed her condition as fibroids.
The tragedy underscores a broader issue in the U.S. healthcare system, where 12 million people receive incorrect medical diagnoses annually. Dr. David Newman-Toker from Johns Hopkins notes that misdiagnosis rates are 20% to 30% higher for women and racial minorities compared to white men. This disparity is particularly stark for Black women, who are disproportionately affected by both fibroids and cervical cancer.
Pettway’s journey began in June 2022 with intense vaginal bleeding, leading to multiple hospital stays and misdiagnoses until February 2023, when an oncologist finally identified her stage 3 cervical cancer. The popular YouTuber, with over 225,000 followers, shared her story to raise awareness and encourage others.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises regular cervical cancer screenings and HPV vaccinations for prevention. However, the case highlights the need for addressing racial bias in healthcare. As emergency physician Monika Goyal states, “Racial bias is baked into our culture. It’s important for all of us to start recognizing that.”
Pettway’s story serves as a stark reminder of the critical need to address health disparities and improve diagnostic accuracy for all patients, regardless of race or gender.
See “Beauty influencer Jessica Pettway, 36, dies from cervical cancer after fibroid misdiagnosis” (March 20, 2024)
