Cervivor School

In September, I am going to Cervivor School for a four day conference, and I couldn't be more excited. In broad terms, the conference will focus on:

• essential knowledge about HPV, cervical cancer, and cancer prevention
• training in impactful storytelling so you can share your experiences with confidence and authenticity
• support from other women who have been right where you are
• access to experts in areas such as media, advocacy, scientific research, health-care, communications, psychology, and therapy

It will also be an amazing opportunity to meet & learn from other cervical cancer survivors.

Cervivor was founded by Tamika Felder, a cervical cancer survivor and advocate for women with cervical cancer. She recognized the lack of support for cervical cancer patients and survivors, and began Cervivor through her 501 (c) 3 organization, Tamika & Friends. 

One of Cervivor's main goals is to remove the stigma of cervical cancer being caused by HPV, and the best way to do that is by talking about it. Cervivor's "Who We Are" page has identified three levels of involvement:

• Some of you will be advocates among your friends and family
• Others of you will extend out to your social networks and local communities
• And then there will be the handful of you, that like Tamika, will want to change the global impact of cervical cancer, thinking about women across the United States, as well as women in countries around the world.

I want to change the global impact. I want to remove the stigma. I want every woman diagnosed to have somewhere she can go to spend time wiith other women who get her and what she is going through. When I was diagnosed, I felt alone, damaged, ashamed. And I don't want any other woman to feel that way

If you are reading this, and feel that way, please know you are not alone. It is estimated that 50% of people will contract HPV at some point in their lives. Most show no symptoms, and clear up on their own. There are 100 strains of HPV, and 13 - 14 of these strains are high risk and can lead to cancer. Women can be screened for HPV by their gynecologist, but there is currently no test recognized by the CDC to test for HPV in men.Gardisil, the HPV vaccine, can be given beginning at age 11, all the way up to age 26. It is not foolproof; it does not protect against all 100 HPV strains, but it does target 70% of the strains known to cause cancer. If you have been diagnosed, remember that there is nothing that you did to "ask" for HPV or cervical cancer. Approximately 33 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each day in the United States, and 90% of cases of cervical cancer are causHPV. HPV can be transmitted in ways other than intercourse. 

These are the conversations we need to be having. This is the goal of Tamika & Friends and Cervivor. I want to be a part of that. I know that I can't make these changes on my own - I am only one person. So I am incredibly grateful to have the chance to go to Cervivor School, and learn how to take this extremely important convérsaton to the next level.

For more information about Cervivor School, Tamika Felder, and a many topics and resources related to HPV and cervical cancer, visit Cervivor at www.cervivor.org.

what's the deal with #TealTuesday?

We are all familiar with the color pink signifying breast cancer. In October, breast cancer awareness month, even the NFL shows their support by incorporating pink into their uniforms, from socks to gloves to the footballs themselves. And I think that is amazing. I also think it is unfair, because not all cancer is pink.

Please don't get me wrong, I fully support breast cancer. My mom is a breast cancer survivor, who was diagnosed two months before I received my cervical cancer diagnosis. But it's frustrating to see such widespread support for breast cancer, and virtually nothing for gynecological cancers.

So on Tuesdays, we wear teal.

What has come to be called #TealTuesday by many actually began as a challenge issued by a woman named Sunny in December of 2012. Sunny started a movement called Take Back Teal because of her mother, who lost her battle to ovarian cancer. She concurrently created a pledge called Turn It Teal Tuesday: every Tuesday for one year, those who pledged to do so would incorporate something teal in their outfit for that day. Teal is the color for ovarian cancer, so wearing something teal is a great way to start a dialog about ovarian cancer.

Teal and white are the colors for cervical cancer, so I wear something teal (almost) every Tuesday. And when I receive a compliment about whatever item it is, my response is "Thanks! I'm a cervical cancer survivor, and teal and white are my cancer's colors. I wear teal as often as possible to support other women fighting this disease, and to honor those who have lost the battle against it." I post pictures on Facebook and Instagram with #TealTuesday. It gets people asking questions, and every time I can help educate women about gynecological cancers, I am potentially saving someone's life.

#TealTuesday

You don't have to have ovarian or cervical cancer to participate in #TealTuesday. You can do it because  you know someone with GYN cancer. You can do it to help educate other women. You can do it because teal is an awesome color.