Wow, I set out to publish a blog post for Cervical Cancer Awareness Month every day of the month.  Thirty-one blog posts!  It was quite an undertaking but I think I pulled it off pretty successfully!  

I wrapped up this month at an amazing Cervivor School graduating ceremony for new Cervivor Ambassadors in South Carolina.  I shared that my favorite experience from the weekend was getting to witness a fellow Cervivor Ambassador sister, who is new to the organization, spreading awareness and advocating with factual and accurate information while spending time together on Saturday night.  Tamika has created such an amazing platform, Cervivor, to educate and train advocates in the effort to eradicate cervical cancer.

Today I would like to do two things:  first, I would like to challenge you and second, I would like to recap the information we heard about this month:

First thing is first - a few challenges for you:  

• If you are a female, I challenge you to schedule your annual well woman exam.
• If you are a male, I challenge you to talk to at least one female who is important to you and ensure she has scheduled her annual well woman exam.
• If you are a male or female and you are below the age of 26 and have not received the HPV vaccine, I urge you to speak to your healthcare provider.  You must have received all three shots in order for it to be most effective, if you didn't receive all three shots you don't have to start over!  Please remember, there are three different vaccines commercially available in the United States, however, the most comprehensive vaccine available protects against HPV strands 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 48, and 52, protecting against the types of HPV that cause 90% of genital warts and 90% of HPV-related cancers.  This vaccine also covers the strands which are known to cause penile, anal, oral, and vulvar cancers.
• If you are a parent, do your research and help prevent future cases of HPV related cancer.  Speak to your healthcare provider about getting the vaccine for your sons and daughters.  If you have any questions I can help direct you to factual evidence regarding this vaccine.  Feel free to comment and/or contact me via email. 

Secondly, lets do a quick recap of the information we heard about this month:

1 - #CCAM Kick Off
2 - Recap:  My Story
3 - Cervical Cancer:  What is it anyway?
4 - Results Day!
5 - Impacting Friends:  No One Fights Alone
6 - Well Woman Exam
7 - Advocacy in the News
8 - Eyes of Another:  Co-worker, Friend, and Cancer Supporter
9 - Cervivor School Hoosier:  Are you ready?
10 - Understanding Basic Test Results
11 - College Friend to Cancer Support
12 - Shout Out:  Support is Key
13 - Abnormal Pap...Questions to Ask
14 - Top Ten Symptoms to Remember
15 - Your Story Matters
16 - Cervivor School Hoosier
17 - Cervivor Fundraiser:  Uno Pizzeria & Grill
18 - The Port
19 - Princess Power
20 - My Mother's Eyes
21 - 1,000 Words
22 - Join Us:  SYL @ Butler
23 - Tears, Anger, & Love: My Sister's Perspective
24 - HPV Myths Busted!
25 - Cancer Support Comes In Many Forms - A Friend's Perspective
26 - Are you pregnant?
27 - Preventing Cancer:  The HPV Vaccine Myths Busted
28 - Cancer, Infertility, and Family - A Husband's Story
29 - Attitude is Everything
30 - Cervical Cancer:  My Photo Story
31 - #CCAM Recap!

I hope that this month has helped you to better understand information related to cervical cancer awareness and I look forward to the rest of the year being fabulous!  Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.  Check out Cervivor's new website too!  If you are a cervical cancer patient or survivor please submit your story to Cervivor.

As #CCAM is wrapping up, I wanted to share some special pieces of my story in photo form. I hope that you continue to help spread awareness about cervical cancer year round and if you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me.  I'm an open book!

This morning I ran across a post that said "Attitude is the difference between and ordeal and an adventure."  I saw that message and it really resonated with me.  I immediately told the individual I was going to need to use that to put onto a picture.  As I was sitting on a plane heading to Cervivor School South I decided that I need to do more than just make a graphic with the quote.  I wanted to write about it.

People always tells me that they think I am so strong, they think I'm an inspiration, they don't know how I do it.  When I saw this quote today it made me stop and think.  I am not any stronger than you would be.  I am not any more inspiring than you would be.  I also know, that you could do it too!  It is all about your attitude.  I never imagined that I had any other choice than to live life the way I do.  I try to fully embrace life and have a positive attitude whenever possible.

Does that mean I am always positive?  No.  Does that mean there is never a time that I am worried that I am going to make the wrong decision during my continued treatments?  No.  Weekly, if not daily, I am concerned and wondering if the Avastin is working by maintaining the cancer the size it is and preventing it from spreading.

If you see or talk to me on a daily basis you know that I make jokes about dying, underneath those jokes are fears.  Fears that the cancer is going to take my life too soon.  Fears that my husband will lose me and my son.  Fears that my son will lose me.  However, I don't dwell on those fears.

A positive attitude is key.  As I said, reading the following really resonated with me:  Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure.

I plan to, moving forward, focus on my life as an adventure.  Focus on my cancer as an adventure and not an ordeal.

​I challenge you - make your life an adventure and not an ordeal.  Focus on the small things as positive experiences.

Today's blog post is going to address some myths running around about the HPV vaccine.  This vaccine can help eradicate cervical cancer.  The vast majority of cervical cancer cases are linked back to HPV.  There are additional cancers which are linked to HPV including oral, penile, anal, and vulvar.  In addition to the high risk strands which cause these cancers, there are additional strands which cause genital warts.  Please take the time to do your research and discuss the HPV vaccine with your healthcare provider for yourself and/or your children.  Remember, this vaccine is for both men and women.  HPV is not just a female concern.  It is a human concern!  Earlier this week I posted about HPV myths and I have done extensive research and linked to several peer reviewed reputable sources in this post.

Myth:  There is only one HPV vaccine.

Reality:  There are currently three HPV vaccines on the market in the United States:  Gardasil 9, Gardasil, and Cervarix.  It is possible to select which HPV vaccine you wish to have, and/or wish for your child to have.  Gardasil 9 protects against HPV strands 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 48, and 52, protecting against the types of HPV that cause 90% of genital warts and 90% of HPV-related cancers.  Gardasil protects against HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18, protecting against approximately 70% of all cervical cancers and 90% of all genital warts.  Cervarix protects against HPV 16 and 18, these strands cause approximately 70% of all cervical cancers.

Myth:  I already have HPV, there is no reason for me to get the vaccine.

​Reality: According to the CDC, there are over 150 strands, currently identified, which make up the HPV label.  Each vaccine available protects against multiple high risk strands of HPV. 

Myth:  The HPV vaccine can make pre-existing HPV infections worse.

Reality:  There is no credible medical documentation that supports the myth that the HPV vaccine can make pre-existing HPV infections worse. 

Myth:  The HPV vaccine is a free pass for promiscuity, so I will just wait until my child becomes sexually active.

Reality:  This vaccine is not a free pass for your child to become sexually active.  This vaccine is designed to prevent individuals from contracting and spreading a virus which causes cancer.  It is best to receive the vaccine before any sort of sexual interaction occurs, especially since it is transmitted by intimate skin-to-skin contact.  No one wants to think about their children having sex, but this vaccine isn't about sex it is about saving lives.  The CDC put out a great graphic touching on this key topic.  It is found at the bottom of this blog post.

Myth:  HPV only affects females, so males do not need the vaccine.

Reality:  This is a misnomer, there is not a commercially available test for men to determine if a male is carrying HPV.  However, men do contract and carry HPV.  Men typically do not have symptoms when they carry HPV.  Some strands of HPV can cause genital warts in men.  Few strands of HPV can cause cancer in men such as oral, anal, or penile.  Gardasil 9 protects against HPV strands 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 48, and 52, protecting against the types of HPV that cause 90% of genital warts and 90% of HPV-related cancers. 

Myth:  The HPV vaccine causes life long side effects and has caused many deaths.

Reality:  According to the CDC, the only common side effects correlated with the HPV vaccines include:  pain, redness, or swelling in the arm where the shot was given, fever, headache, tiredness, nausea, muscle or joint pain.  All of these are side effects which are not identified as life long side effects.  There are no reputable medical resources which document life long side effects or deaths related to receiving a HPV vaccine.  The CDC covers, in depth, safety concerns related to the HPV vaccine.

Myth:  The HPV vaccine does not have enough medical research.

Reality:  The HPV vaccine has had extensive medical research completed, here is a document from the CDC with an overview of information related to the research.  Here is additional CDC information available related to the safety and validity of the HPV vaccine.

Myth:  Getting my child vaccinated for HPV means I am giving him/her permission to be sexually active.

Reality:  Providing your child with this vaccine does not give them a green light to become sexually active.  Here is a document, provided by the CDC, for doctors to help explain the benefits of the HPV vaccine to parents.

Myth:  My child won't have sex until marriage, they don't need the HPV vaccine.

Reality:  Even if an individual doesn't have sex until marriage, the HPV vaccine is still going to be a beneficial tool in ensuring they do not contract HPV.  Remember, HPV is not spread through bodily fluids, it is spread through skin to skin contact.  He/she could contract HPV without having intercourse, even if they wait until marriage for intercourse.

Myth:  The HPV vaccine can cause an HPV infection.

Reality:  The HPV vaccine is made from one protein from the HPV virus that is not infectious (cannot cause HPV infection) and nononcogenic (does not cause cancer).

Are you pregnant?  Those three words are words no woman who is not pregnant wants to hear.  Those three words are are especially difficult for someone who has undergone treatment for cervical cancer.  The majority of treatments for cervical cancer leave you infertile.  I know, personally, this is something that is very hard mentally that doesn't just go away.

When I was originally diagnosed at the age of 27 I was told my only option was a hysterectomy.  I did my research and found that there was a gynecologic oncologist in Indianapolis who could potentially perform a trachelectomy, if I was a viable candidate, which could theoretically preserve my fertility.  This was the path of my original diagnosis.  I had my surgery November 2012 and I tried to put cancer in my past.  In May 2013 Wylee and I moved to Indianapolis to live with my, now, husband JR.  While on vacation in Las Vegas, JR proposed in June 2013.  Everything seemed to be on track.  I was cancer free, engaged, fertile, and living life.  I was winning at life.  Wylee would ask if we could have a baby.  He wanted a younger brother and/or sister.  I told him "after the wedding" we could have a baby.  I had no idea what was in store for my family.  Two months before our wedding came the news in April 2014 that the cancer had returned with a vengeance.  This time there was no surgical option and we had to start treatment immediately.  I had the conversation with JR that this meant no more children.  He told me that no treatment meant no more me.  So, we moved forward immediately with treatment.  The idea of another child died at that moment.  On a day during the summer after the wedding Wylee asked me when we could have a baby.  I can vividly remember sitting there bald and sick from treatments and explaining to my five year old why his mommy couldn't have any more children.  Explaining that because of the type of cancer I had, I had treatments which meant I couldn't give him the younger brother and/or sister he had once asked for.  It was devastating for our family to have to have that conversation.  I felt like I failed him.

Monday of this week I heard those three words, directed at me.  "Are you pregnant?"  Due to this question, I was able to teach a sixth grade student a life lesson.  You should never, ever, ask a woman if she is pregnant if you have not been told directly, by her, that she is pregnant or you are attending her baby shower.  When this student asked if I was pregnant I simply said no and went on with working with another student.  At the conclusion of class I called the student over so we could have a conversation one-on-one about why it isn't an appropriate question to ask and how someone younger or more easily offended might have reacted to such a question.  We also discussed that, as he knew, I have cancer and I'm unable to have any more children.  We talked about how you don't know what someone is going through and it isn't something to ask someone.  I hope that he remembers the lesson I taught today.

Now, this question led to me reflecting a little about my cancer battle.  When I was diagnosed with cancer for the second time a fellow staff member found out I would be out of the building.  They, innocently, asked if I was pregnant.  I was newly diagnosed the my recurrence and reacted with the response of "no, actually the opposite I have cervical cancer again and I'm losing my fertility."  That pretty quickly ended the conversation.

I have yet another example where someone has asked me this.  I was at a bar we enjoy visiting, owned by friends of ours, having lunch and watching football last Sunday.  A person who knows me by sight, but not name, came up to me and asked "how is the baby?"  I told him our son was six.  I assumed that would stop the conversation.  It did not, he asked again saying he thought I had a baby last summer.  I just reassured him that our son was six and I didn't have a baby last summer.  I planned to leave it at that, I don't know this person really and I was enjoying a day out with my friends so I just wanted to stop engaging in conversation.  He then went to my husband and asked again.  Really?  Did he think I was lying to him?  My husband let him know that we did not, in fact, have a baby last year.  My husband then went on to let him know that I have been in a continuous battle with cervical cancer and couldn't have any more children.  I am hoping that person learned a life lesson that day too.  You really don't know what someone is going through, if they don't engage in conversation about a particular topic you should probably drop it.

I picked the picture for today's blog purposefully.  Although I obviously am not a super fit and slim woman I am proud of my body and do not feel that I appear to be pregnant (even if I did appear to be pregnant, it is not okay to ask).  My body tells a story, it shows my scars, and I am proud of it.  It tells a story about motherhood, obesity and weight loss, as well as multiple battles with cancer.  You can look forward to an upcoming blog post about scars.  

I absolutely believe none of the people I mentioned today were attempting to be malicious.  I think the question of "are you pregnant" is just something people inquire about and for some reason they think is totally appropriate.  However, it isn't a question like "did you get a haircut?"  It is a really personal question.  You never know what someone is going through.

I, personally, have never been brought to tears by this question.  I try to not dwell on it.  However, it was weighing enough on my mind that I needed to write this.  It is weighing enough on my mind that when I took off the dress I was wearing when I was asked that question I seriously considered getting rid of it.  

As I think about this question, it is much more than just about me.  I think about my friends who have been devastated to find out that they can no longer have children due to cervical cancer treatments.  I think about my husband who I can't give another child to, due to my cancer recurrences and subsequent treatments.  I think about my son, who desperately wants a younger sister and/or brother.  The loss of fertility is another thing which makes cervical cancer treatments devastating.  In fact, there are multiple women on Cervivor who have opened up about how the loss of fertility has really impacted each of them.

I really hope that you take the time to visit Cervivor and see the stories of the women who have opened up about how the loss of fertility can really have an impact.  You can now filter stories on Cervivor based on area of interest.  It is really a fabulous feature.

Number one take away - never, ever, ask a woman if she is pregnant unless you see she is literally having the baby.  You never know what she is going through and how that question might impact her.

Myth:  All HPV is the same.

Truth:  According to the CDC, as of 2015 there are over 150 strands of viruses which fall under the label HPV.  The majority of the strands do not cause any known effects.  Some strands cause a variety of types of cancer while other strands cause warts.

Myth:  HPV is only contracted through intercourse.

Truth:  HPV is so easily contracted it can be transmitted through skin-to-skin intimate contact.  Remember way back before you were sexually active and you thought "oh, it didn't go in so I am still a virgin"  OR "that didn't count as sex"...well HPV is so easily transmitted you could contract HPV without having intercourse!

Myth:  HPV only causes cervical cancer.

Truth:  Of the over 150 strands of the virus which fall under the label of HPV only some cause cancer.  Some strands can cause genital warts, these strands are different from the strands that cause cancer.  There are strands, many strands, which don't cause any symptoms.  There are high risks strands, which there is a vaccine to prevent, which cause cancer.  Fact, these strands don't only cause cervical cancer but are also linked to vaginal, vulvar, throat, anal, and penile cancers.

Myth:  Only promiscuous people get HPV.

Truth:  I know more than one woman who had never had sexual intercourse before marriage, yet she contracted HPV which ultimately developed into cervical cancer.  This is not a virus that only promiscuous people get.  As we learned above, it is passed through skin-to-skin intimate contact.  According to The Cleaveland Clinic, 80% of the population will be infected with HPV at some point during their life.

Myth:  Condoms prevent HPV 100% of the time.

Truth:  Since HPV isn't contacted through the sharing of bodily fluids I am sure how you can see that condoms are not 100% effective at stopping the spread of HPV.  Obviously, they help minimize contact, however, they are not 100% effective at stopping the spread of HPV.

Myth:  HPV is always cleared by your body and will always go away on its own.

Truth:  Many individuals can clear HPV on their own and will not need any further treatment.  Strands of HPV can lie dormant in your body and, if not active, will not be detected using the HPV tests which are available.  High risk strands don't automatically mean the strand will develop into a serious issue.  I think this is important to note, my doctors told me for years that my abnormal paps were probably not something to worry about and most people could clear the virus on their own without medical intervention.  It is important to advocate for yourself and ask to go on a more frequent testing schedule if you are having abnormal Paps or have tested positive for HPV.

Myth:  There is a cure for HPV.

Truth:  There is no cure for HPV.  However, there are multiple preventative vaccines available which can prevent the known high risk strands.  I will be doing a post for #CCAM about myths and truths of the vaccine as well.

Myth:  Positive HPV means you will definitely develop cervical cancer.

Truth:  A positive HPV test or abnormal Pap does not mean you will automatically develop cervical cancer.  It does mean you need to check in with your OB-GYN more frequently.  It also means you should be aware of your body and watch for concerning symptoms.

Myth:  If you have HPV, there is no way to know which type of HPV you have.

Truth:  There is a screening test available, to women, which can identify if you have high risk or low risk strands of HPV.  You can ask for this test.  This test is recommended if you have Pap test abnormalities or as a co-test once you hit 30 years of age.

Q.  Why should I go and see Someone You Love?

A.  Someone You Love is an amazing documentary which is designed to bring the HPV epidemic to the surface!  It is estimated that 80% of all people, under 50 years of age will have a strain of the virus at some point during their lives!  That is right.  Take a look at any group of ten people and eight of them will contract a strain of HPV at some point during his/her life!

Q.  Why should I care about HPV?

A.  HPV is linked to the majority of cervical cancer cases, in addition to vaginal, vulvar, anal, throat, and penile cancers.  This virus does not discriminate and can impact your life!  Worldwide, cervical cancer alone kills over 250,000 women every year. In this powerful film, you will meet five unforgettable women whose lives have been changed forever and even interrupted by this deadly virus.

Q.  Who is invited?

A.  The public is welcome at this free screening of SYL, hosted by Butler University.

Q.  What are the details about the screening?

A.  The SYL screening will be Tuesday, January 26 at 6:00 PM in the Atherton Union Reilly Room at Butler University.

Q.  Do I have to sign up?

A.  Yes, you will need to sign up for this event.  Please follow this link to get your free ticket for this public screening. 
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Will you be coming to this screening?  I'd love to see you.  Please leave me a comment if you are joining us for the screening.