my name is jessica (she/her) -
also lovingly known as jayray!
I'm a queer writer, advocate, creative,
and rectal cancer survivor.
I live my life guided by a soft heart
and a fierce tongue, which is evident in my writing and advocacy.
as a jersey girl based in san diego,
I find comfort in painting on the beach,
chasing sunsets, women’s sports,
and sharing a delicious meal with the people I love!

in january 2024, I was diagnosed with rectal cancer at the age of 29.
in february 2023, I had genetic testing done which showed that I have a mutation called lynch syndrome (PMS2), which puts me at a higher risk for colorectal and endometrial cancers. my symptoms were brushed off as IBS, but knowing I had lynch, I pushed my doctor to do a colonoscopy. I woke up from the colonoscopy to find out that there was a 6cm mass in my rectum. biomarker testing showed that my mass was mismatch repair deficient, which made me eligible for immunotherapy. my oncologist in san diego told me about a clinical trial being done at memorial sloan kettering in new york city using only immunotherapy to treat rectal cancer in patients like me.

how do you say no to a 100% success rate?

we followed the clinical trial from 3000 miles away and I began my
immunotherapy treatments in february 2024.
at my midpoint check, my scans showed that the mass was gone entirely.
we finished out the remaining infusions and
I was NED in september 2024.

while this flipped my world upside down,
it helped me focus on the mark I want to leave on this world.

my mission is to empower others to use their voice and lean into their intuition through advocacy, inclusivity, community, and empathy.

self-advocacy in the medical space literally saved my life – I want to empower my generation, and those to come, to speak up for themselves and have the confidence to make decisions that are best for them. inclusivity is something that guides my way of thinking, even prior to my cancer diagnosis. I am constantly looking for ways to break barriers and society’s mold for what “should be.” this way of thinking fuels my deep love of community. there is so much we can learn from each other, and community provides a safe and welcoming place to do so. empathy is the root of all these pieces and the catalyst for lasting change.