It's Time for a Contest!

Here are the rules:

·      The first person to get all the answers correct wins a prize

·      You can source your answers anywhere – from this blogs, from FB posts, from the Internet

·      Send your answers in a private message (yes, you can message the blog)

All questions are True or False

1.     HPV can only be contracted through intercourse

2.     Only sexually promiscuous people contract HPV

3.     Men cannot get HPV

4.     Gardasil, the HPV vaccine, is dangerous and can cause death

5.     There are over 150 strands of HPV

6.     An HPV diagnosis means you will get cervical cancer

xoxo Jennie

There is Nothing to Be Ashamed About

When I was first diagnosed with cervical cancer, I didn’t want to tell anyone. I was ashamed. I didn’t want to tell anyone because the female reproductive system is kind of a taboo subject, and also because cervical cancer is a little wrapped up in sex. Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV, a sexually transmitted infection. Cervical cancer has been referred to as “the bad girl’s cancer.” It’s not fair, but it’s the way it is.

I finally outed myself because I needed support. And, to my surprise, I heard from a lot of women about their own experiences with HPV & precancer. I realized that all it takes is one person to speak up, and that is enough to break the shame cycle.

When I started this blog, I wanted to put it all out there. I wanted women to feel like they were not alone, that they didn’t have to hide in the shadows and shoulder this burden on their own. Cancer is hard enough to deal with, without even taking into account having a type of cancer that would make other people judge you.

I have talked a lot about things that might make people uncomfortable. And I will continue to do so until it becomes normalized, and other women aren’t afraid to speak up about their experiences.

I want you to know that you are not alone, and that you have nothing to be ashamed of. No matter what our sexual history looks like, none of us asked for this disease, and none of us deserve it. Please speak out and let your voices be heard.

Someone once told me that gynecologic cancer is where breast cancer was twenty years ago – a kind of don’t ask, don’t tell. But we need to tell. We need to share our stories. We need to move forward and normalize this disease.

If you need support and empowerment, there is an organization dedicated to women with HPV, pre-cancer, cervical cancer, and survivors called Cervivor. This was a godsend to me. It helped me focus on what I can do to help other women dealing with cervical cancer, as well as work out my own issues surrounding my disease. Check it out at cervivor.org.

xoxo Jennie

Dealing with Friends and Familys Reactions

In a perfect world, your friends and family would react with compassion and love when you receive your diagnosis. But that isn’t always the case. In my experience, my family was completely supportive, and surrounded me with love and support. However, I’ve heard stories about families reacting in completely the opposite way. A friend shared that her mother didn’t want her to tell anyone about her diagnosis, because cervical cancer was the “bad girls cancer.” Just at the time when you need your family the most, they can sometimes turn their backs on you.

For me, the most difficult thing was the reaction of some very close friends; ones who I assumed would absolutely be there to support me. I was sorely disappointed. I had one friend who made plans to come by while I was recuperating from surgery, and then just never showed up. I had friends who stopped calling and wouldn’t take my calls. I was hurt, and I was angry.

The silver lining was that I received a tremendous outpouring of support from people who I would never have expected to reach out. I received so many offers of help from where I least expected it. It was a true blessing.

I carried a lot of hurt and resentment for a while about being blown off by those I thought would be there for me. But I came to realize that their emotional distance wasn’t about me. Several reached out to me later on, and explained that they pulled back because of their own issues. Some had family members who had succumbed to cancer. Some where frightened by the thought of their own mortality. And I forgave them. Cancer is a very difficult issue for anyone to deal with.

If you feel loved ones pulling away when you are diagnosed, cut them a break. Chances are they are just frightened – at the thought of losing you, at the thought of their own mortality, at memories of loved ones they’ve lost. Nothing about cancer is easy, for anyone.

xoxo Jennie

Going Through Cancer With My Mom

I will never forget the day I found out that my mother had breast cancer. My husband and I were on our way to the grocery store when she called. She asked me if I was home, and told me that she needed to come over right away. My first thought was that someone in our family had died. We were standing in the produce section, and I told her I wasn’t hanging up the phone until she told me what was going on. That’s when the bomb dropped. She said, “I have breast cancer.” I immediately started crying. We left our cart in the middle of the aisle and drove home. She met us there, and we sat on the couch, and I just cried and cried. It was my greatest fear come true. My mother, who has been my best friend for my entire life, was going to die. She told me over and over that she wasn’t, that they caught it early, but I was still terrified. Little did I know then, but the real struggle was just beginning.

Two months later, I got the call telling me I had cervical cancer. This time, it was me making the call to my mom, telling her she needed to come to my house right away. Again, we sat on my couch, I told her, and we cried together. It seemed ridiculously unfair that we would both be diagnosed with cancer two months apart.

As it turned out, having cancer at the same time was a blessing in disguise. Even though we were diagnosed with different types of cancer, we experienced the same feelings: fear, uncertainty, anger, sadness. We were able to support each other in a special way because we both really got it. There were countless times when we called each other up just to cry because it was all getting to us. We helped take care of each other post surgery.

Since my mom had to have radiation treatment, we were declared NED (no evidence of disease) pretty close to the same time. That was the coolest part of all – we beat cancer, and we beat it together.

In July of 2015, we threw a party to celebrate being one year cancer free. It was an amazing night, and I was so thrilled to celebrated with my mom, who had been my biggest champion through my illness.

We had an amazing bond before cancer, and we are even closer now. My mom is 20 months NED, and I am about to reach 19 months NED. We are truly blessed, and we couldn’t have made it without each other.

xoxo Jennie

Guest Blogger - Karen, My Mom

Today's post is a guest post courtesy of my mom, Karen. She has a unique perspective based on her own help. Thanks for writing, Mama! Enjoy!
 
Several years ago someone asked me what potentially life-threatening event I would find most frightening. Without hesitation I said “Cancer.”  Around that same time, someone else asked me what I would do it I were ever diagnosed with cancer, to which I replied I would probably shoot myself. Two of my dearest friends had recently died of cancer and suffered mightily during their illness.  The chemo and radiation made them sick, and in the end they died anyway.

For most of my adult life I’ve exercised and tried to eat healthily, assuming that this would help protect me from physical ailments and diseases – including cancer.  Imagine my surprise, dismay, bewilderment, and sheer terror when in February 2014 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was stage 1B, survival rate greater than 90%, but it was cancer and the survival rate wasn’t 100%.  Did I shoot myself? No, obviously not. Was this the scariest thing that had ever happened to me during my 62 years on planet Earth? Yes, definitely.  What could be scarier? A few short months later I would find out.

On a sunny warm day in April 2014, just over a month after my lumpectomy to remove my breast cancer, my daughter Jennie called me while I was at work to ask if I could come over to her house right away. She was very, very upset. I asked her what was wrong and she wouldn’t tell me. I imagined all sorts of things that might be distressing her so severely - cancer wasn’t on the list playing in my head. I grabbed my keys and ran out of the office without even thinking to tell anyone where I was going. Jennie is my only daughter, my first-born, and we’ve been incredibly close from the moment of her birth. Luckily Jen lived only a couple of miles from my office, and even more luckily – as much of a nervous wreck as I was – I managed to speed to her house without crashing my car or getting stopped by the police. When I walked in the door, Jen told me she’d gotten the results of her pap smear and that she had cervical cancer.  She wouldn’t know the stage, how bad it was, until she’d seen a gynecological oncologist.  I felt like the ground had suddenly dropped out from beneath my feet.

I wanted to scream, I wanted to run, to disappear into thin air. This could not be happening. How could this be?!?!? How could we both have cancer at the same time?!?!? What were the odds? Probably a gazillion to one. This sounded much more deadly than my breast cancer. Would my darling daughter, love of my life, die before me?  Could things somehow be reversed, could I take the death penalty in her place?  It was all I could do to hold it together while I was with her that day. As scary as my cancer diagnosis had been, it paled in comparison to hearing Jennie’s diagnosis.  If there was ever a day I would have been tempted to make a deal with the devil, that was the day.  But luckily the devil didn’t offer so instead, we just sat on the couch, holding each other and crying together. We said over and over again how much we loved each other, and that no matter what happened, we’d see it through together.  

As it turned out, there was a benefit to our having cancer at about the same time, particularly emotionally. If only one of us had the disease, as caring and supportive as either of us would have been for the other regardless, we had a much better idea of what the other was going through, particularly emotionally.  We could understand on a gut level the anxiety, raw fear, depression, and even anger the other was feeling without even having to say anything, without having to ask, “What’s wrong?” We each understood when the other needed to be alone, or needed to be with someone, even just sitting quietly reading together.  Luckily I had only a few very mild side-effects from my radiation treatments and was able to go with Jen to doctor’s appointments, to the hospital when she had her hysterectomy, and to stay at her house to help care for her post-surgery.

The one thing I’m trying to stop beating myself up about was not bugging Jennie to get regular gynecological checkups.  I would suggest it from time to time, she would say she’d schedule one, but wouldn’t follow through.  I had some idea of why she wasn’t getting the exams and after all, she was an adult, so even though I was concerned she was putting herself at risk for cancer, I bit my tongue whenever I was tempted to nag her. I kept hoping that she’d go of her own accord – which she eventually did, thank goodness!  If I could have a do-over on this, I think I’d be more of a nag – particularly knowing as I do now how many relatively young women are stricken with cervical cancer, and how critical it is to catch it as early as possible to maximize chance of survival.

As of a few weeks ago, Jennie has been NED for 18 months – HURRAY!!!  (Women who’ve survived cancer say they are “NED” of that wonderful day when their oncologist tells them they find “no evidence of disease”.) Am I still scared about whether Jennie will be a long-time survivor of this dreadful disease?  Yup, very much so. It’s one of the few things that can wake me from a deep sleep and keep me awake until dawn. But as time goes by and the number of Jen’s NED days increases, the gut-wrenching fear occurs less and less often. Meanwhile, I’m just profoundly grateful she finally went for a PAP smear when she did, for each and every day she’s cancer free, for the wonderful times we share together. And I’m extremely proud of her for all she’s doing to advocate for better cervical cancer awareness and prevention education, and to provide support to women who are battling this dreadful disease.

Oh – In case you’re wondering, as of January 13, 2016 I’ve been NED for 20 months! Fingers crossed or prayers to the deity of your choosing, Jen and I have many years left to enjoy sharing life’s adventures together!

What Can You Do to Help Someone with Cancer?

Cancer treatment is taxing; there are no two ways around it. It doesn’t matter what kind of treatment you have; it is exhausting. You find yourself completely worn out, with no energy to do the things you are used to doing, and a lot of times you are in a great deal of pain. Some women are able to power through it (hi Erica!), while others simply are not. It’s not a contest. Everyone’s body reacts in different ways. There is no shame in asking for help, even though few of us want to, thus admitting weakness. But it isn’t weakness – it’s knowing your limitations, and being willing to reach out to others.

I took an informal poll on Facebook to see what helped ladies most during their recovery time post treatment. Most of the responses were things like helping with their kids, bringing food, provided and rides and company at appointments, and doing household chores. However, a few things stuck out at me.

One woman’s friends and company raised $20,000 to pay for medical expenses. And another said holding her hand was the most important thing. That really touched my heart. Such a simple act, but so powerful.

If you want to reach out and help a friend with cancer, check in with them first to make sure that you are fulfilling a need. Some of those living with cancer are too worn out to entertain, and may just want to be left alone. This is not a reflection of you or your friendship; it’s just where your friend is as that particular moment.

If your friend is adamant about not having visitors, or not wanting help with the kids or around the house, take the time to pick out a card and write a personal message on the inside to let them know that you are there if they need you, and that you care. Sometimes that’s the best gift of all.

xoxo Jennie

The Gardasil Vaccine

In June of 2006, the Gardasil vaccine, otherwise known as the HPV vaccine, was licensed for use. Gardasil provides protection against HPV 6 and 11, the strains known to cause genital warts; and against HPV 16 and 18, the strains that lead to cervical cancer. The release of this vaccine was a game changer. It is the first drug of its kind that can actually prevent a type of cancer. You would think that this would be a cause for widespread celebration – after all, it has the potential to eradicate a terrible form of a deadly disease. Unfortunately, you’d be wrong.

Gardasil is recommended to be given to girls between 11 and 12 years old, and in some cases as young as 9. It’s recommended to females all the way up to age 26. While the American Cancer Society has no recommendation regarding giving the Gardasil shot to boys and young men, The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does recommend that males receive the vaccine as well.

Vaccinating between 11 and 12 is best, because it gives the vaccine plenty of time to work it’s way through the body, but there is no reason why the vaccine should not be given later.

Think about this: If we all vaccinate our children against HPV 16 and 18, the strains that cause cervical cancer, we have the potential to eradicate cervical cancer altogether.

Garasil is not without controversy. There is a ton of misinformation going around, which has caused many parents to balk at the idea of giving their children this vaccine (Michele Bachmalnn, I’m looking at you). Parents who have vaccinated their children have reported serious reaction to the vaccine, such as death from a rare neurological disorder, after having the vaccine. The independent Institute of Medicine found there was no correlation between these deaths and the vaccine.

An article from 2014 was recently brought up in which Erin Brockovich claimed to know women whose daughters have died from the Gardasil vaccine (http://www.damemagazine.com/2014/03/17/erin-brockovich-when-women-get-together-were-tough-force-push-back). This is simply not true. Science has proved again and again that Gardasil is not deadly, and does not cause serious adverse reactions. My dear friend Lori commented on the article, which sparked many other women to chime in to show Brockovich just how wrong she was. 

Here’s Lori’s comment:

“As a cervical cancer survivor, community peer educator, and Cervivor Ambassador, it pains me to see articles and comments like this that are full of misinformation and dangerous statements. This year alone, 500,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide...HPV vaccine is far from a "dangerous and useless vaccine." It has been proven safe and social media has blown up with articles that spread fear and myth. We are poised to eradicate cancers that kill thousands of men and women. I'm happy to speak in detail to anyone interested in fact-base information on HPV vaccine efficacy and the importance of protecting ourselves from disease.”

Another popular excuse for not vaccinating their children is the parent’s belief that, at 11 and 12 years old, there is no way that their child is having sex. Well, the goal is to vaccinate prior to any sexual activity. Since HPV is spread by skin-to-skin contact, a child doesn’t even need to have intercourse in order to contract the STI. And once the child, or teen, is sexually active, there is a good chance that they already have contacted HPV. 80% of the population has at least one strain of HPV. While most of these strains are harmless, and will go away on their own, it’s still a gamble.

When you vaccinate your children, be it at age 9, or 11 and 12, you don’t have to explain that you are vaccinating them against an STI if you are not comfortable doing so. You can simply explain that it’s just another shot, and leave it at that.

As for side effects, it is proven that they are no different than any other vaccine: the most common side effects are pain, swelling, itching, bruising, and redness at the injection site; headache; fever; nausea; dizziness; vomiting; and fainting. No death, no neurological disorders, nothing more than temporary discomfort.

Gardasil is a lifesaving vaccine. If we all vaccinate our children, their generation will not have to suffer cervical cancer, penile cancer, anal cancer or oropharyngeal cancer.

 

Source: CDC, Gardasil.com, American Cancer Society

HPV: Breaking Down the Myths and Misconceptions

All Information Courtesy of www.everydayhealth.com/news/mythsabouthpv/

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the country, affecting about 79 million Americans. This week, New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito announced on Twitter that she was diagnosed with “high-risk HPV.” Despite its prevalence, there are several misconceptions about what HPV is, who gets it, and what a diagnosis means. 

Here are the most common myths – and facts – about HPV. 

1. Myth: Only women get HPV. 

Fact: Men get HPV, too. In fact, most sexually active men and women will have at least one HPV infection at some point in their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Any person who is sexually active can contract HPV, even if you’ve only had one sexual partner. 

2. Myth: All strains of HPV cause cancer. 

Fact: HPV can cause anal, cervical, penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. However, not all HPV strains can cause cancer. 

Leading Catheter Brands, Liberator Medical

High-risk strains of HPV – the strains that cause cancer – like types 16 and 18 can cause cervical cancer. In fact, these strains account for 70 percent of cervical cancer cases. They can also cause other types of cancer. A 2006 study published in the International Journal of Cancer found that high-risk HPV infections cause about 5 percent of all cancers worldwide. However, the National Cancer Institute reports that most high-risk HPV infections go away within 1 to 2 years and do not cause cancer.

3. Myth: If you don’t have sex, you won’t get HPV.

Fact: HPV can be spread through skin-to-skin oral, anal, or vaginal sex. Condoms can lower your risk of contracting HPV, but you can still contract the virus through protected sex if there’s skin-to-skin contact. 

4. Myth: Men can get screened for HPV. 

Fact: HPV can be diagnosed in women through the use of a Pap test, also called a Pap smear. However, there are no FDA-approved tests to screen for HPV in men. 

5. Myth: There are treatment options available for HPV. 

Fact: Although healthcare professionals can treat precancerous lesions and genital warts that are caused by HPV infections, there’s no treatment available for the virus itself.

6. Myth: People with HPV always have symptoms.

Fact: Most people who have HPV do not develop any symptoms. Although there are many potential health problems associated with HPV like genital warts and certain types of cancer including cervical cancer, most people don’t develop health problems from an HPV infection. The CDC reports that in 90 percent of HPV cases, a person’s immune system fights off the infection within two years. 

7. Myth: I got the HPV vaccine, so I don’t need to get Pap tests.

Fact: Even if you get the HPV vaccine, you still need to get regular Pap smears to screen for cervical cancer. The two HPV vaccines — Gardasil and Cervarix — protect against only two high-risk HPV strains (types 16 and 18) that cause cancer. The vaccine is a preventive measure and doesn’t help people who are already infected with the virus, which is why they’re recommended for people in their 20s or younger. While both vaccines are available for women, only Gardasil is available for men. 

Someone You Love: The HPV Epidemic

At Cervivor School in September 2015, I had the honor of watching the documentary Someone You Love: The HPV Epidemic. It follows five women who were diagnosed with HPV that lead to cervical cancer. The film is raw, it holds nothing back. 5 beautiful, strong, amazing women: Tamika Felder, Christine Blaze, Kelly Pozzoli, Susie Carrillo, and Kristen Forbes. Kelly and Kristen unfortunately lost their battle against cervical cancer, and are now in a better place with no more pain. They have earned their teal angel wings.

I highly recommend this movie to anyone whose life has been effected by cervical cancer. it is 100% reality of what it is like living with cervical cancer, both as a survivor, and as someone who fought with everything they had.

I’m not going to lie, it is a very difficult movie to watch. I had to leave the room on more than one occasion, because Kelly’s story reminded my too much of my dear friend Melissa. Even as a survivor myself, it struck a chord in my that cancer always looms in the back of my mind. I could have just as easily been In Kristen or Kelly’s place.

If you are in the DC metro area, I am screening this movie on January 23. If you are, please leave a note in the comments sections.

xoxo Jennie

Sex After Cancer

Cervical cancer causes many changes, especially to your sex life.  Your body has gone through so many traumas, and honestly sex is different in your post-cancer life. Women who have surgery wind up with a shortened vagina. If you have radiation, the texture width of your vagina changes. You have to use a dilator (a vaginal dilator is a tapered devices used to slowly stretch the vaginal walls of the vagina so penetration is more comfortable. Dilator sets typically come in a wide variety of sizes so that a woman can start at a size that is most comfortable for her.) If your ovaries are removed as part of treatment, you go into menopause. The typical intimacy is just not there.

There is also the added difficulty of communicating to your partner that sex is not the same as it used to be, and that you aren’t as eager to have it.

I spoke with many women about their experience with sex post cervical cancer. Many had no desire to have sex, due to fear, lack of interest, and pain. Women who do have sex also experience pain, dryness, and lack of orgasm. There is also bleeding after intercourse, which makes it really uncomfortable for women who are not in monogamous relationships to deal with. I even have a friend whose marriage broke up because of her issues with sex post-disease – I cannot repeat the words I am thinking of this man, but let’s just say they are not flattering.

From the information I have gathered, the biggest issue is pain. Between surgery that shortened and changed your vagina, and radiation damage, sex seems insurmountable. But intimacy doesn’t have to mean intercourse. It can be shown in a kiss, a hug, or just holding each other.

After my surgery, sex was very painful, and it still is. I still bleed from time to time. I don’t have orgasms like I used to. My sex drive has diminished. In all honesty, sex frightens me. It’s very hard when my husband wants to have sex, and I don’t. I oftentimes agree because I don’t want him to feel bad. We did talk about it, and he was very gentle with me. He oftentimes just held me when that is what I needed.

On the plus side, I have heard from several women who say that they have better orgasms than they ever did before treatment! So there is hope.

The best thing you can do is communicating openly with your partner about your wants and needs. One woman suggested masturbation so that you know how your body responds, and then can show your partner how to make it enjoyable for you.

xoxo Jennie

What IS Cancer?

Cancer is a complicated disease. There are many different types of cancer, and each presents itself in different ways. Blood cancers present differently than cervical cancer. However the basic premise of how the body develops cancer is fairly universal.

As I am not a doctor, I’m going to break this down in fairly simple terms. Our bodies are made up of trillions of cells. These cells have a natural life cycle, and over time the cells grow old and die off, allowing newer, healthy cells to take their place. Cancer occurs when the old cells don’t die off, newer cells form when they aren’t needed, and the excessive cells clump together to form tumors. There is a breakdown in communication between healthy cells and cancerous cells that don’t inform the cancerous cells to stop growing.

 There are many different ways of treating cancer, depending on what type of cancer you have, and how far along the cancer is. Most people have surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, or a combination of any of those three. There are also the options of immunotherapy (A type of biological therapy that uses substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection, and other diseases. Some types of immunotherapy only target certain cells of the immune system. Others affect the immune system in a general way. Types of immunotherapy include cytokines, vaccines, bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), and some monoclonal antibodies.), targeted therapy (A type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific types of cancer cells with less harm to normal cells. Some targeted therapies block the action of certain enzymes, proteins, or other molecules involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. Other types of targeted therapies help the immune system kill cancer cells or deliver toxic substances directly to cancer cells and kill them. Targeted therapy may have fewer side effects than other types of cancer treatment. Most targeted therapies are either small molecule drugs or monoclonal antibodies.), or hormone therapy (Treatment that adds, blocks, or removes hormones. For certain conditions (such as diabetes or menopause), hormones are given to adjust low hormone levels. To slow or stop the growth of certain cancers (such as prostate and breast cancer), synthetic hormones or other drugs may be given to block the body’s natural hormones. Sometimes surgery is needed to remove the gland that makes a certain hormone. Also called endocrine therapy, hormonal therapy, and hormone treatment.). Every person is different, and every case is different, so it is important to talk to your oncologist about their recommendation, and then to decide what is right for you.

Clinical trials are another option, which test how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease.

Source information credit goes to NIH National Cancer Institute.

What Are the Warning Signs of Cervical Cancer?

Most warning signs of cervical cancer don’t present themselves until the cancer has become invasive. For women with early cervical cancer and pre-cancers, there usually are no symptoms. These are the most common symptoms of cervical cancer to look out for:

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding, such as bleeding after sex (vaginal intercourse), bleeding after menopause, bleeding and spotting between periods, and having longer or heavier (menstrual) periods than usual. Bleeding after douching, or after a pelvic exam is a common symptom of cervical cancer but not pre-cancer.
• An unusual discharge from the vagina − the discharge may contain some blood and may occur between your periods or after menopause. Discharge is milky colored, and has a foul odor
• Pain during sex (vaginal intercourse). 

If you experience any of these symptoms, see your gynecologist immediately. The sooner cervical cancer is detected, the less invasive treatment is needed, and there is a much greater chance for survival.

Of course some women display no symptoms at all, which is it is CRITICAL reason why you need to keep up with you Pap smears.

More importantly, if you feel that something is wrong, see your doctor immediately. If your doctor brushes you off, seek a second opinion. You know your body better than anyone else, and don’t ever brush your feelings under the rug just because a doctor didn’t take your concerns seriously. Cancer is a matter of life and death, and you need to advocate for your own health.

No woman enjoys a visit to the gynecologist. But five minutes on the table can literally mean the difference between life and death. Your health is the most important gift you have.

I spent months bouncing from doctor to doctor before I found a gynecologist who took me seriously. And she literally saved my life. Keep pushing for answers until you get one that makes sense based on your symptoms. Don’t assume that a doctor is right just because he has a medical degree. Keep fighting for answers. This is your life, and there is nothing more precious than that.

xoxo Jennie

How Can You Protect Yourself Against Cervical Cancer?

Pap smears are no longer recommended annually; neither is HPV screening. Instead, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released new screening guidelines in 2012.

These recommendations apply to women who have a cervix, regardless of sexual history. These recommendations do not apply to women who have received a diagnosis of a high-grade precancerous cervical lesion or cervical cancer, women with in utero exposure to diethylstilbestrol, or women who are immunocompromised (such as those who are HIV positive).

•The US Preventative Task Force (USPSTF) recommends screening women ages 21 to 65 years with cytology every 3 years or, for women ages 30 to 65 years who want to lengthen the screening interval, screening with a combination of cytology and HPV testing every 5 years. Grade A

•The USPSTF recommends against screening for cervical cancer in women younger than age 21 years. Grade D

•The USPSTF recommends against screening for cervical cancer in women older than age 65 years who have had adequate prior screening and are not otherwise at high risk for cervical cancer. Grade D

•The USPSTF recommends against screening for cervical cancer in women who have had a hysterectomy with removal of the cervix and who do not have a history of CIN 2, CIN 3or cervical cancer. Grade D

•The USPSTF recommends against screening for cervical cancer using HPV testing, alone or in combination with cytology, in women younger than age 30 years. Grade D

GRADE DEFINITION

Grade A: The USPSTF recommends the service. There is high certainty that the net benefit is substantial

Grade B: The USPSTF recommendsthe service. There is high certainty that the net benefit is moderate or there is moderate certainty that the net benefit is moderate to substantial

Grade C: Note: The following statement is undergoing revision.

Clinicians may provide this service to selected patients depending on individual circumstances. However, for most individuals without signs or symptoms there is likely to be only a small benefit from this service

Grade D: The USPSTF recommends against the service. There is moderate or high certainty that the service has no net benefit or that the harmsoutweigh the benefits

Based on these classifications, this is the schedule for women to get Pap smears and HPV tests:

Women under 21: no screening necessary (Grade D)
Women age 21-65: Pap smear every 3 years (Grade A)
Women under 30: No HPV test necessary (Grade D)
Women age 30-65: Pap smear every 3 years, HPV test every 5 (Grade A)
Women older than age 65 who have had adequate prior screening and are not high risk: no screening necessary (Grade D)
Women after hysterectomy with removal of the cervix and with no history of high-grade precancer or cervical cancer: no screening necessary (Grade D)

Information via http://www.acog.org/~/media/districts/district%20ii/pdfs/uspstf_cervical_ca_screening_guidelines.pdf

What Are the Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer?

There are many risk factors for cervical cancer. Some of them we have control over; others we do not.

The highest risk factor is the infection of the Human Papiloma Virus (HPV). While there are over 150 strains of HPV, only a few lead to cervical cancer – HPV 16 and HPV 18. These strains have been directly linked to cervical cancer. HPV can be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact; intercourse is not necessary to contract this STI. There is no cure for HPV.

Other risk factors that can be controlled are smoking, diets low in fruit and vegetables, long term use of birth control pills, intrauterine devices, having multiple full term pregnancies, being younger than 17 at your first full term pregnancy, poverty, and having a family history of cervical cancer.

If you fall into any of these categories, please be vigilant about your well woman visits. Once again, early detection means less invasive treatment and a increased chance of long term remission.

xoxo Jennie

What Is Cancer? How do we fight it?

Cancer is a complicated disease. There are many different types of cancer, and each presents itself in different ways. Blood cancers present differently than cervical cancer. However the basic premise of how the body develops cancer is fairly universal.

As I am not a doctor, I’m going to break this down in fairly simple terms. Our bodies are made up of trillions of cells. These cells have a natural life cycle, and over time the cells grow old and die off, allowing newer, healthy cells to take their place. Cancer occurs when the old cells don’t die off, newer cells form when they aren’t needed, and the excessive cells clump together to form tumors. There is a breakdown in communication between healthy cells and cancerous cells that don’t inform the cancerous cells to stop growing.

There are many different ways of treating cancer, depending on what type of cancer you have, and how far along the cancer is. Most people have surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, or a combination of any of those three. There are also the options of immunotherapy (A type of biological therapy that uses substances to stimulate or suppress the immune system to help the body fight cancer, infection, and other diseases. Some types of immunotherapy only target certain cells of the immune system. Others affect the immune system in a general way. Types of immunotherapy include cytokines, vaccines, bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), and some monoclonal antibodies.), targeted therapy (A type of treatment that uses drugs or other substances to identify and attack specific types of cancer cells with less harm to normal cells. Some targeted therapies block the action of certain enzymes, proteins, or other molecules involved in the growth and spread of cancer cells. Other types of targeted therapies help the immune system kill cancer cells or deliver toxic substances directly to cancer cells and kill them. Targeted therapy may have fewer side effects than other types of cancer treatment. Most targeted therapies are either small molecule drugs or monoclonal antibodies.), or hormone therapy (Treatment that adds, blocks, or removes hormones. For certain conditions (such as diabetes or menopause), hormones are given to adjust low hormone levels. To slow or stop the growth of certain cancers (such as prostate and breast cancer), synthetic hormones or other drugs may be given to block the body’s natural hormones. Sometimes surgery is needed to remove the gland that makes a certain hormone. Also called endocrine therapy, hormonal therapy, and hormone treatment.). Every person is different, and every case is different, so it is important to talk to your oncologist about their recommendation, and then to decide what is right for you.

Clinical trials are another option, which test how well new medical approaches work in people. These studies test new methods of screening, prevention, diagnosis, or treatment of a disease.

Source information credit goes to NIH National Cancer Institute.