Anissa Marie Bass is a captivating actress, author, model army veteran, and influential speaker with a passion for advocating for stomach cancer awareness and the fight against combatting sexual violence in the military.
We sat down with Anissa Marie Bass to learn more about her advocacy work and her dreams for a better world.
Share with us the “cliff-notes ” version of who Anissa is.
Thank you for having me as a guest. I am an actress, executive producer, nurse, and veteran. I served 8 years in the Army National Guard with Honors. I have three daughters, Natasha, Aniyah, and Autumn. I have been a Licensed Practical Nurse for 30 years and I worked closely with Covid patients at the start of the pandemic in 2020. I have appeared in several film productions in North Carolina; T.V/Web/Films. These credits include “A Polished Soul” (2020)- Mike Rae Anderson, Director, “Bondage” (2017) Season 1-3, Karlton Clay (Producer) and C’est Parfait…It’s All Good (2016), Darryl Dlo Hutchins( Co-Producer). I moved from Fayetteville NC in 2016 to Charlotte NC which is now home. I am a champion for breast health and combating Military Sexual Trauma. I have been featured in three magazines, Victory Productions, Southern Style Magazine, and E.G.O. I am the Author of one Book.
You are the Founder of The Anthony L. Bass Stomach Cancer Foundation in honor of your husband’s battle with gastric cancer. Take us back to where your advocacy began.
On August 10th we lost an incredible man named Anthony Leon Bass to a three-month battle with stage 4 stomach cancer. Anthony endured over 30 blood transfusions, 10 rounds of radiation, 2 rounds of Folfox, Chemo and an attempt at a total gastrectomy which was aborted because of metastasis to the peritoneal. My husband fought this deadly disease as a Warrior and never complained. I later discovered that my husband’s surgery was botched, as they nicked his liver during surgery and didn’t disclose this to us. My husband was given a death sentence with no compassion or respect for the disease process. They handed us a Hospice Diagnosis and sent us home to die.
After his death, I grieved until one day I decided that his dying would not go in vain. I wanted to share his story so I began to tell his cancer story to anyone that would listen. I shared our cancer journey on Facebook and was contacted by two organizations, No Stomach for Cancer and Debbie’s Dream Foundation. I was invited to speak in Durham at Duke Medical Center and told my husband’s story. We were not offered any clinical trials and I didn’t like the way the oncology team treated my husband during our stay at Atrium. I turned my anger into jet fuel and decided to start advocating for the change I wanted to see. I attended a March on Capitol Hill in March of 2023 and February of 2024. We went to lobby to the lawmakers in DC to keep the cancer disease on the Bill and to ask for increase funding. We met with lawmakers and Senate Members and shared our story again.
Your book, 44 Life Lessons of Hurt, Love, and Triumph, offers a glimpse into your personal experiences. If readers could take away one piece of advice from your book, what would that be?
My Mother, Joyce taught me how to work hard, laugh harder, and treat people fair. She taught me how to use my voice. Your voice is what you own. In my book, I use my voice to empower, nurture, and build the woman or man who has lost their voice.
You sit on the Board of Directors for No Stomach For Cancer (NSFC), What do you seek to achieve with your work? Why do you believe that gastric cancer in particular is rarely spoken of?
I am the newest board member of NSFC and I’m grateful to have been given this title. I aim to bring new insight and assist with organizing and further growing the company. I will support, research, and advocate stomach cancer research worldwide for those affected by this terminal disease. I will also educate on the need to acquire a healthier diet and lifestyle to include removing GMO and processed foods from the ADA diet. Gastric cancer is rarely spoken of because it is hard to diagnose and it mimics acid reflux and GERD symptoms. Last year it was #9 in leading deadly cancers, this year it is #5 in leading terminal cancers.
Share a particularly rewarding moment from your work with the Anthony L Bass Stomach Cancer Foundation.
The day I established the foundation was the most rewarding moment: May 2023.
You recently came off an event with the state capitol for cancer advocacy and awareness. What do you wish the general public to know about cancer?
Every Disease starts with what we put in our mouths. Stomach cancer is growing and as of right now, there is no cure. Early detection and awareness are key. No one should die of cancer. Getting genetic testing and having a procedure called an endoscopy are key components to detecting cancer early.
What are your ambitions and goals moving forward?
I am currently writing book #2 which will cover grief. I plan to write more books about my love story with my husband as we were married twice and I plan to write a cookbook dedicated to Anthony’s love for Seafood and Soulfood. I visited Ghana Africa last year(October 2023) and I am planning to write a film documentary dedicated to my journey home.
To learn more about Anissa Bass, visit her website at: https://www.anissamariebass.com/
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