Cervical cancer- shame and fear?

Seattle, WA

Thanks to the new HPV commercials the general public is now aware that cervical cancer can be caused by an STD. They urge more people to be tested and vaccinated, yet now that it has been added to the ‘dirty disease’ category like HIV and AIDS will less women be tested or comfortably admit their diagnosis? It’s sad that we live in a judgmental world. Cancer is cancer no matter where it is on your body. Breast cancer carried the same hush-hush stigma not so long ago and more women lost their lives going undiagnosed or diagnosed too late.

Not all patients with cervical cancer had HPV. In the words of a 33 year old woman who underwent a radical hysterectomy to save her life, “I have no family history of cervical cancer; I’ve never had any STDs; I haven’t had multiple sex partners; and I don’t HPV. Perhaps, when people are aware that one has cervical cancer, they won't look at it as being a "dirty woman" disease like my family did.”

No one deserves cancer. No one battling cancer deserves to be treated with anything but love and compassion. Remember, any STD can occur with just one time, just one partner. Yes, the risk increases with more partners but the reality of infidelity, or an unknowing infected partner can lead to HPV.

The Seattle Cancer Care Alliance advises, “Regular Pap tests are important to your survival: about 90 percent of women whose cervical cancer was detected by a Pap test will survive. The figure is much lower--only 40 percent--for women whose cancer was not diagnosed until they experienced vaginal bleeding.”

According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, possible symptoms are:

• Blood spots or light bleeding between or following periods


• * Menstrual bleeding that is longer and heavier than usual


• * Bleeding after intercourse, douching, or a pelvic examination


• * Pain during sexual intercourse


• * Bleeding after menopause


• * Increased vaginal discharge

Be informed, be supportive and never live in fear or shame when your life or their's is on the line.

Find a Gynecologic Oncologist: http://www.wcn.org/findadoctor/ Gynecologic oncologists are specially trained to care for women with gynecologic cancers such as cervical cancer, endometrial, or uterine cancer, or ovarian cancer.

 Subscribe to Cervical Cancer News Information Links