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Inspired by recent news (and the fact that January was
Cervical Cancer Screening month), the Younger
Women's Movement will be presenting a 2-part series
on Women's Sexual Health.
This issue will focus on HPV, cervical cancer, and
vulvodynia with articles and an interview with Ms.
Christine Baze, founder of PopSmear.org and The
Yellow Umbrella Tour (www.theyellowumbrella.org).
I was lucky enough to interview Ms. Baze in early
February.
In January of 2000, she quit her day job as a
therapist to pursue her one true passion fulltime --
music. She was at a point in her music career where
she could see herself doing it for the rest of her life. A
few months later, everything changed when Baze, then
31, was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Today, Ms.
Baze works on raising awareness about cervical
cancer prevention.
Sure, it would have been incredibly topical if we'd filed
this particular issue in January - but, as Leslie
Goodman pointed out in an article below, National
Cervical Cancer Screening Month is "strangely not
identified by my Office Max calendar."
(For those playing along, March is Women's History
Month) Get Excited!!
We hope you find this newsletter informative. If you
have any questions or comments about the articles
featured, please email alyssa.frances@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Alison, Shannon, Sheerine and
Alyssa
and, as always, the entire Coordinating Board
| New Insights Into Genital Pain In Women |
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From
New York
Times
When a woman complains of genital pain so severe
that it makes sexual intercourse all but impossible,
her partner may jump to the conclusion that she has a
phobia about sex. But what if that same woman also
experiences excruciating pain when trying to insert a
tampon, undergo a pelvic exam, wear a pair of jeans,
ride a bicycle or go jogging? Can phobia explain all
those problems?
Not very likely. In fact, studies have shown that sexual
phobias are rarely the explanation for a condition
known as vulvodynia, a chronic discomfort of the vulva
that can result in searing or shooting pain when any
amount of pressure is placed on the sensitized
tissues. Some women compare the feeling to acid
being poured on an open wound.
The problem can last months, years or a lifetime.
Worse, doctors often misdiagnose it or treat it
inappropriately, if at all.
For decades, women suffering from vulvodynia have
been told that nothing seems to be wrong with them -
nothing, that is, that the examining physician can
discern - or that the condition may be real but that
nothing can be done.
Christin Veasley of Providence, R.I., said that
vulvodynia, which was diagnosed at age 18 during her
freshman year at college, made it impossible for her
to sit long enough to finish a midterm exam. Her
doctor said there was no help for her condition.
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| WWMCD? (What Would My Cervix Do?) |
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From
HuffingtonPost
The other day, my cervix sent me an email. She's
become so tech-savvy lately (!) -- and check out the
firm grasp of the English language on her:
Dear Leslie,
This is your cervix writing.
I know, you might've forgotten I existed until you got
this e-mail just now (what with vagina and clitoris
always hogging all the attention). I bet you wouldn't
even recognize me if you saw me -- me, your very own
cervix!
Little Miss Cervix got some help from Planned
Parenthood in contacting me to remind me that
January is National Cervical Cancer Screening Month
(strangely, not identified by my Office Max calendar).
But the issue is no laughing matter: Despite the fact
that cervical cancer is nearly 100 % curable if caught
early, approximately 4,000 American women die of the
disease each year. The majority of them have either
never had a Pap test or had not been tested within five
years of the diagnosis.
According to a recent survey conducted by the
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists,
29% of women haven't seen a doctor on a regular
basis or had a Pap test in the past year. As a young
woman who has always been empowered to take
ownership of her mental, physical and sexual health
(by my parents, by my education, by my doctors), a
number like this is staggering. Cervical cancer ranks
among the top cancer killers in third-world countries,
precisely because Pap smears are not widely
available or performed. But here in the U.S., we've
helped bulldoze the disease with a screen so routine,
many insurance companies offer them at 100%
coverage. I know mine does, but only because I
received an email from my husband last week with the
subject heading, "Because I know you're a sucker for a
free Pap smear..." Again, empowerment.
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| 5 Things You Didn't Know About HPV |
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From Miami Herald
1 Cancer connection: There are more than 100 types
of Human papillomaviruses or HPV, the most
common sexually transmitted infection in the United
States. Most are harmless, but about 30 types put you
at risk for cancer. Almost all women will have HPV
infections at some point, but very few will develop
cervical cancer; their immune systems will usually
suppress or eliminate HPVs, says the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Only HPV infections
that do not go away over many years lead to cervical
cancer.
2 How you get it: Through skin-to-skin sexual contact
with an infected partner. Transmission by genital
contact without intercourse is not common, but it has
been reported. Oral-genital and hand-genital
transmission of some HPV types is possible, says the
American Cancer Society.
3 Common: Infection is very common soon after a
woman becomes sexually active. In one recent study,
more than 50 percent of college-age women were
found to have acquired an HPV infection within four
years of first having sex, says the American Cancer
Society.
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| HPV Vaccine for Women Aged 19-26? Study Backs HPV Vaccination for Young Adult Women, Regardless of Risk Factors |
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From WebMD
A new study supports giving all women aged 19-26
the HPV vaccine, if they haven't already been
vaccinated, regardless of their backgrounds.
HPV (human papillomavirus) is a common virus
spread through sex. It's a leading cause of cervical
cancer, but most women with HPV don't develop
cervical cancer.
Gardasil, the HPV vaccine, targets four types of HPV. It
must be given before a woman is infected with those
types of HPV.
Gardasil is approved for girls and women aged 9-26.
The CDC recommends it for all girls aged 11-12,
with "catch-up" doses for girls aged 13-18 and women
19-26 who missed earlier vaccination.
But the HPV vaccine's use in women aged 19-26 has
been a matter of debate.
The American Cancer Society argues that there isn't
enough evidence to recommend that all women aged
19-26 get the vaccine. So the American Cancer Society
advises women in that age range to discuss the
vaccine with a health care provider.
That's where the new study comes in.
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| Today's Oral Contraceptives; Not Your Mother's Birth Control Pill |
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From Our Gyn
Oral contraceptives (OCs) are the most popular
method of contraception among young women 18-24.
They are highly effective at preventing pregnancy when
used correctly and consistently, but incorrect and
inconsistent use of OCs is a substantial problem
among young women. Unfortunately, most women
know little about how the pill works, its benefits, and
its side effects. What's new? Read on to see why "it's
not your mother's birth control pill."
Besides contraception, there are clearly some
benefits with OCs. Women can expect decreased
cramps and decreased menstrual flow, decreased
benign breast disease, decreased functional ovarian
cysts, decreased iron deficiency anemia, decreased
acne, and decreased menstrual irregularity. Oral
contraceptives also reduce the risk of ovarian and
endometrial cancers, pelvic inflammatory disease,
ectopic pregnancy, and toxic shock syndrome. OCs
also may prevent osteoporosis in women who are
underweight or who are not ovulating because of
intense physical activity, such as collegiate sports.
There are some of the potential side effects of OC that
you (and possibly your doctor) may not know. They
include increased vaginal dryness, pain during sex
(especially upon penetration), decreased sex drive,
increased recurrent yeast or bacterial infections, an
increased risk of sexually transmitted infections
including Chlamydia, and HIV and increased risk of
blood clots, stroke and heart attack. In general, OCs
do not cause weight gain. In addition, despite the
perception of more than 25% of women, OC do not
cause or significantly increase the risk of cancer. In
fact, OCs provides significant protection against
endometrial and ovarian cancer.
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Interview with Christine Baze, Founder of The Yellow Umbrella Organization |
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How old were you and what was your life like when
you were diagnosed with cervical cancer?
I never thought about cancer when I was 31. I was
happy, healthy, married and totally excited about my
future - I was pursing my dream of being a full time
Rock Star. It was going well. Really well, until I went in
for my pap. After 13 consecutive normal yearly paps,
this one came back abnormal. Within a week after
further tests, I got the news - invasive cervical cancer
with extensive lymphatic invasion.
Impossible.
Me? Cervical Cancer?
Ten days after my diagnosis I had a radical
hysterectomy, then laproscopic surgery, then 5
weeks of daily pelvic radiation concurrent with 4
rounds of chemo and then 3 rounds of internal
radiation.
Then came the depression.
I felt like I lost everything.
Eventually I realized I did NOT lose EVERYthing, just
some bits and pieces.
So I put myself together with the pieces that were left,
and decided to use my story, my experience, my music
and my voice to get the message of cervical cancer
prevention out there - I wanted to educate and
empower other women.
How has the experience of being a cancer survivor
shaped your thinking? (If at all).
Cancer changed my life, there's no way of getting
around that. I became acutely aware of how
precious each and every moment is and the power
we all have as individuals to make choices and to
live every day intentionally For me, that means doing
what I love, making music, and making a difference
through my work as an activist. The "gift" of cancer
has been this incredible clarity in my heart and in my
head about what REALLY matters.
Tell me about your organization, especially what
inspired you to start an organization and what you're
most excited about for the future of your organization.
What motivates you to keep sharing your stories and
what achievement are you most proud of?
The Yellow Umbrella Organization started out as
PopSmear.org (pop music and pap smears, get
it?!?) in 2002, and the message was simple: "Ladies,
don't blow off your yearly pap. Have a conversation with
your doctor and make sure you are getting the BEST
pap out there. And if you are 30+, ask for an HPV test
with your pap. And men, go tell the women you love."
It's that simple to keep your cervix smiling!
And what happened at the first concert and the 88 to
follow is that people listened! The more I sang and
talked about my story and how we can DO something
about this cancer, the more people talked about it - in
the papers, magazines, on the TV and the radio.
When I did the first show I never dreamed that I would
be running an organization, traveling around the
country and still talking about it over 5 years later, but
that is what happened and I feel just as passionately
as I did at the first show.
The Yellow Umbrella Org is excited about continuing
the message through music and collaboration (say-
something.org), as well as expanding our sites to
include a network of organizations who are all working
in the fight against cervical cancer.
As for the achievement I'm most proud of, I have to
say kicking cancer's ass!!! = )
Cancer helped me see how strong I really am. I never
knew, but now I see the power an individual has to get
from the dark into the light, and I will never forget that.
And also, I have to say, I have the most incredible
opportunity coming up next month when I get to open
for Sheryl Crow at the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young
Adults fundraiser!!! Now THAT is a dream come true,
and something I think I will be proud of for the rest of
my life. FOR SURE!!!
In the past couple of years, the story of HPV and its
prevalence has really emerged, partially due to the
emergence of the HPV vaccine and likely a variety of
other factors, including the work of organizations such
as your own. Did you know anything about HPV before
your diagnosis? If not, what information did you learn
about it after?
I had never heard about HPV before I was diagnosed
and I considered myself an educated, proactive young
woman because I never missed a pap or physical or
anything like that. So when I was told that it was from
sex, at first I was horrified and embarrassed. But then,
as I learned more, I realized that it was nothing to be
ashamed about at all. I learned that it is virtually
ubiquitous, that it's not a sign of promiscuity or
infidelity, that it is usually a transient virus and that the
danger mainly exists when you have a persistent
infection. And then I learned about the different
screening tools - the pap and the HPV test. I never
knew that the pap was measuring for cellular changes
(dysplasia) caused by HPV, I only knew that I had to
go every year. I also did now know that the pap
can have a false negative rate of up to 50%, which
means it tells you you are "fine" when you are not. My
docs think this is what happened to me, that the pap
missed me year after year, and it wasn't until the
office switched to a liquid (more sensitive) pap that it
caught what was happening.
At this time, 2002, the HPV test had just come out. It
is a DNA test that tells you if you have HPV and are
at risk for cervical cancer.
When I wrapped my head around all this information, I
just knew I had to share with as many people that
would listen because it could help save women's
fertility and women's lives. With the vaccine, there's
just more and more to talk about and more we can
do. It's a very exciting time.
Many of our readers may be thinking of
getting the "catch-up" HPV vaccine for women aged 19-
26. Do you know if you need to be screened for HPV
before you get the vaccine? And more generally, what
would be your personal advice to a younger woman
who is not sure about whether or not to get the
vaccine?
My understanding (and every woman should talk
directly to their doc about this) is that one does not
need to be screened for HPV prior to getting the
vaccine. Even if you've been exposed to one strand of
HPV, Gardasil covers 4 strands, and therefore you will
have protection against the others. Soon there will be
another vaccine available, Cervarix, so there will be
more choices for young women.
As far as my personal advice, it's a no brainer. 3
shots are better than a hysterectomy. Trust me! I think
women need to use EVERY tool and do EVERYthing
they can, because remember, I did go for my pap
every year and it still missed me. It wasn't enough.
So I say, use everything we've got. Shots are better
than chemo. No joke.
How can we all help to spread the word about
HPV, cervical cancer, and women's sexual health? Are
there additional resources that your
organization offers that you'd like us to know about?
SAY SOMETHING!!!
Honestly, that is the way we are going to beat this
disease, by talking about it. By women educating one
another. By men telling the women they love, by
roommates telling each other not to blow off their pap,
by sisters telling sisters to get the HPV vaccine. That is
what you can do to help!
The stigma attached to HPV and women's sexual
health is very real and we are the only ones
who can break down the misconceptions. We have the
power. We have the technology to prevent a cancer.
Let's do it.
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Brought to you by the Younger Women at YWTF
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