Marissa Jaret Winokur was 27, newly diagnosed with cervical cancer, and fighting for doctors to listen to her. At the same time, she was fighting for the role that would change her career.

In Episode 7 of Big C Energy, Tony Award-winning actress Marissa Jaret Winokur joins Alison Haislip for a hilarious and deeply honest conversation about being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cervical cancer, advocating to have the cancer removed from her body, and secretly navigating treatment while pursuing the role of Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray.

Marissa shares why she kept her diagnosis private for years, how cancer changed her relationship with ambition, and why winning the Tony was ultimately just a bonus compared to making it to Broadway. She and Alison also talk about fertility, surrogacy, motherhood, the people who unexpectedly show up when you’re sick, and the importance of being proactive about your own health. And more than 20 years later, Marissa explains why she finally decided to make her cancer story part of her platform.

Topics discussed:

• Marissa Jaret Winokur’s cervical cancer diagnosis at 27

• Fighting to have doctors listen to her treatment wishes

• Pursuing Hairspray while secretly dealing with cancer

• Why Marissa kept her cancer diagnosis private

• Winning a Tony Award after cancer

• Fertility, hysterectomy, surrogacy, and motherhood

• How friends and family show up during cancer

• The importance of Pap smears and proactive health care

• Getting second opinions and advocating for yourself

• Processing cancer after active treatment ends

• Finding purpose in sharing your cancer story

• Life more than 20 years after diagnosis

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, CastBox & iHeartRadio - https://linkin.bio/bigcenergy/

Big C Energy is part of the Community Health Media Podcast Network, where meaningful conversations help patients, caregivers, advocates, and healthcare professionals learn from one another, one story at a time.

Featured music: “Lived to Tell the Story” by Coby Brown

Purchase the song here: https://cobybrown.bandcamp.com/track/lived-to-tell-the-story

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