Kristal Beharry
September 19, 2025
By: Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare
Categories: Cancer, Cancer Care, Gynecologic Oncology
When Kristal Beharry felt pelvic pain, she wasn’t exactly sure what it was or why it was happening, but she trusted her instincts – and it saved her life.
A busy Tallahassee attorney, Kristal could have easily ignored the pain she felt. She stayed persistent, however, visiting her gynecologist and later the Emergency Room, where scans showed something abnormal. Her world was brought to a halt when she ultimately received an endometrial cancer diagnosis after undergoing a biopsy in her 30s.
“In my life, I’m the one people turn to for support,” Kristal said. “I’m that rock for people, whether it’s legal advice or just a listening ear. When I found out I was on the receiving end of a cancer diagnosis, I was thrust into an unfamiliar and vulnerable position.”
An Uncommon Diagnosis
To say Kristal was shocked to receive a cancer diagnosis so young is an understatement. The average age of an endometrial cancer diagnosis is 60 years old, and it’s uncommon for women under 45 to develop this cancer and when they do, it is often challenging to identify.
Endometrial cancer begins as an abnormal growth of cells in the uterine lining. There’s no standard screening test, meaning it’s important to report symptoms like irregular vaginal bleeding, bleeding after menopause or pelvic pain. The cause of endometrial cancer isn’t always known, but obesity, Type 2 diabetes and family history are all risk factors.
Kristal, however, had none of these risk factors.
Even when it comes to symptoms, pelvic pain is much less common than irregular vaginal bleeding, such as in between periods or after menopause.
Kristal initially felt scared and lost.
“The scariest part was not knowing what stage my cancer was or if it had spread,” Kristal said.
A Lifesaving Bond
Reeling from her diagnosis, overwhelmed and searching for answers, Kristal’s first visit with Dr. Amanda Stephens of TMH Physician Partners – Gynecologic Oncology brought a sense of comfort and hope to the unfamiliar situation she suddenly found herself navigating. Dr. Stephens explained Kristal’s likely stage I endometrial cancer diagnosis and an outline of her treatment plan.
“She listened to my story and went over everything in detail,” Kristal said. “For the first time, I felt a sense of hope.”
Dr. Stephens, who says most of her patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer are older, felt like she was treating someone very similar to herself.
“I think Kristal is the perfect example of cancer being an equal opportunity offender,” Dr. Stephens said. “Here’s a younger person who is a busy professional, focused on her career and serving others, and she was just stopped in her tracks.”
The two quickly formed a bond, and Kristal even joked that Dr. Stephens took her breath away when they first met. As Dr. Stephens was going over some of the specifics regarding surgery during one of their initial appointments, Kristal passed out in the exam room, forcing Dr. Stephens to catch her before hitting the ground.
“I said, ‘Hey, can I lay down, I think I'm going to pass out,’” Kristal recalled. “And the next thing you know, she's catching me like some Hallmark movie and laying me down. So that was our first bonding moment.”
Cancer Doesn’t Define You
Just a month after her cancer-finding biopsy, Kristal was scheduled for surgery for a hysterectomy to remove her uterus. However, Dr. Stephens wanted to ensure that Kristal could still live her life as uninterrupted as possible. Kristal and her wife, Beth, had previously planned a trip to Las Vegas and Zion National Park that was months in the making, and Dr. Stephens encouraged Kristal to keep the trip and not reschedule.
“[Cancer] is something that’s happening to you, but it doesn’t define you,” Dr. Stephens said. “I want my patients to live their lives and do the things they enjoy. Your life doesn’t have to come to a complete halt. It’s not what you planned, and we may have to make some modifications, but I want them to have some sense of normalcy while they’re going through this.”
When it came time for Kristal’s surgery, Dr. Stephens was able to remove the cancer completely, meaning Kristal wouldn’t require any additional treatment, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy, aside from follow-up care with TMH Physician Partners – Gynecologic Oncology.
After a brief recovery period, Kristal got back to what she would call normal, even having won a large trial.
“Just having the strength and the ability and the presence to be alive, to be standing there in that courtroom doing what I love and advocating with every ounce of my passion – that was a big welcome back for me,” Kristal said.
Kristal remains incredibly thankful to still be able to do the things she loves because of what Dr. Stephens did for her.
“She took the time to explain every detail of my situation and gave me hope when I needed it the most,” Kristal said. “Her expertise combined with her genuine compassion was pivotal to my journey to recovery. I can say with certainty that she saved my life, and I’m also deeply grateful for her team whose care and professionalism were unparalleled.”
The Region’s Gynecologic Cancer Leader
Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare offers comprehensive, collaborative and compassionate care for all gynecologic cancers. Our team of board-certified gynecologic oncologists and other cancer providers at the Tallahassee Memorial Cancer Center specialize in complex surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and other advanced treatments for women with gynecologic cancers and pre-cancers, including ovarian, uterine, cervical, vaginal, vulvar and fallopian tube cancers.
To learn more about Gynecologic Oncology Services at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, visit TMH.ORG/GYNCancer.
