She brought us laughs and played her role whenever and wherever she was needed. But when actress and comedian Yvette Wilson, who played the role of Andell Wilkerson on UPN’s “Moesha” and its spinoff, “The Parkers.” passed away from cervical cancer in 2012 the show and fans felt the huge loss. She was only 48 years old.
She was loved by those on set and was always referred to as always smiling and full of life.
There are some lessons we can learn from both the life and death of the beautiful, Ms. Wilson.
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The star was not only battling stage 4 cervical cancer, but kidney disease as well.
Following a staging evaluation, a stage IV cancer is said to exist if the cancer has extended beyond the cervix into adjacent organs, such as the rectum or bladder (stage IVA), or the cancer has spread to distant locations in the body which may include the bones, lungs or liver (stage IVB) like it did with Yvette.
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Cervical cancer diagnosed in this stage is often difficult to treat, and a small minority of patients are cured of the disease.
According to 2016 figures by the CDC, African-American women are more likely to die from cervical cancer than any other ethnic group, despite coming in second, to Hispanic women, in overall incidence.
The American Cancer Society recommends talking to your doctor if you have any of the following cervical cancer risk factors:
- You have chlamydia, a common sexually transmitted disease.
- You eat few fruits and vegetables.
- You are overweight.
- You take oral contraceptives (birth control pills).
- You have had multiple full-term pregnancies.
- Your mother or sister had cervical cancer.
Some common cervical cancer symptoms you may have missed are:
- Blood spots or light bleeding between or following periods.
- Menstrual bleeding that is longer and heavier than usual.
- Bleeding after intercourse, douching, or a pelvic examination.
- Increased vaginal discharge.
- Pain during sexual intercourse.
- Bleeding after menopause.
- Unexplained, persistent pelvic, and/or back pain.
Not only did Wilson star alongside award-winning singer Brandy in "Moesha" and comedienne Mo'Nique in "The Parkers," but she also appeared in countless movies like House Party 2, House Party 3, Friday, and many more.
READ: An Abnormal Pap: What It Really Means
Wilson's "Moesha" co-star Shar Jackson, who's also appeared on reality shows "Ex-Wives Club" and "Celebrity Fit Club" mourned the loss of Wilson on Twitter.
"Oh God. My heart is soooo unbelievably broken," she posted. "God has chosen to take my sister Yvette home."
For more information on Cervical Cancer, click here.
