Heartbreak as woman, 23, dies - tragic health battle began at routine appointment

Heartbreak as woman, 23, dies - tragic health battle began at routine appointment She inspired tens of thousands of followers on TikTok with her cervical cancer journey A young woman who inspired tens of thousands of followers by chronicling her health battle has died at the age of 23. Jenna Anne Johnson built a massive online following by sharing honest updates about her diagnosis, treatment and the harsh realities of living with cancer. The influencer passed away on May 29 after spending five days in hospice care. Her passing was announced by her sister Paige in an emotional video uploaded to Jenna's TikTok account on 2 June. Fighting back tears, Paige told followers: "This is not a video that anyone should ever have to make, but it was her one request that if anything did happen I would update you guys." She added: "We fully believe that we are gonna meet her someday. On hospice, some of her last words to my parents were saying, 'It's beautiful'." Jenna's death came nearly two years after she received her cervical cancer diagnosis on June 26, 2024. Her obituary stated she passed away surrounded by her loved ones after confronting the illness with "remarkable strength and courage". The 23 year old, from Stockholm, South Dakota, accumulated more than 50,000 followers on TikTok, where she openly spoke about her diagnosis and dedicated herself to raising awareness of cervical cancer symptoms amongst younger women. One of her most-watched videos, entitled "How I found out I had Stage 4 cancer", garnered more than 3.4 million views. In the clip, Jenna described how she attended what she thought would be a routine appointment and smear test, only to receive abnormal results. Subsequent tests revealed she had adenoid carcinoma, a rare cancer that affects glandular tissue. Doctors initially thought the illness was stage three and potentially treatable. However, following chemotherapy and radiotherapy, scans showed the cancer had spread aggressively throughout her body. Jenna told her followers the disease had first been discovered in her cervix, uterus and lymph nodes before spreading further. She also disclosed that her cancer was not linked to HPV, which is responsible for the vast majority of cervical cancer cases. Due to her age and the unusual nature of her diagnosis, she said doctors were left "absolutely baffled". Despite the heartbreaking prognosis, Jenna continued to use her platform to urge others to make their health a priority. Reflecting on her diagnosis in one video, she said: "Honestly, cancer was my biggest scare, too, and now that I have it, it just really is teaching me to live life to your fullest. You don't know what's gonna happen. You just need to live your life." Born on February 24, 2003, Jenna graduated from Milbank High School in 2021, where she participated in tennis, band, choir and colour guard. Her obituary described her as having a "beautiful voice" and a passion for singing amongst family and friends. She subsequently studied at South Dakota State University before relocating to Wilmington, North Carolina, where she took up work as a nanny. Her family said the position was ideally suited to her nurturing nature. The obituary noted she had "a natural gift with children" and discovered genuine happiness in caring for them. After her diagnosis, Jenna moved back home and started documenting her experience online. Her family said she cultivated an enormous community of supporters who tracked her journey and drew inspiration from her messages. The obituary stated: "Jenna courageously shared her story on social media. Through her honesty and openness, she built a large community of followers who kept up with her journey and found strength in her words. "Jenna used her platform not only to document her experience, but also to raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of cervical cancer." After news of her passing, thousands of followers posted tributes online, expressing gratitude to Jenna for raising awareness and for the candour with which she chronicled her illness. Funeral services took place in Milbank, South Dakota, on 3 June. She is survived by her parents, Darwin and Audra Johnson, sisters Rachel and Paige, and her nephew, niece and extended family.