Chelle

I was 33 years old, Now 37, mother of a 8 year old daughter whom is my life I hadn’t been in for a pap smear for 4 years prior because I wasn’t feeling any different and hadn’t had any issues. It was In March 2007 right after my daughters 8th birthday when they told me that I my pap smear was abnormal and I was sent to a gynecologist for further tests. A biopsy was done only to come back and inform us I was still high risk of cervical cancer. I was mad at myself at first only for the simple fact that I didn’t take care of my body the way I should have and gotten yearly exams. I couldn’t understand how something so quit could destroy my life so quickly without me having a say in it. I have had a colposcopy and a year later they did a Leep procedure because it had spread and was going much deeper into my cervix. The last test she did came back abnormal high risk negative and I just went back last week for another pap. In June 2010 I had a hysterectomy because my doctor and I both felt we couldnt take the risk of this getting any worse. I can say I am the lucky girl that caught this monster but to be happy about it I am not. My fight will continue to go on til no other sister, Mother, daughter out there has to worry about this dreadful virus.In the last year I’ve spoken out freely about my Hpv/Cervical Cancer to my co-workers, family, friends and found that some others had the same issue yet they were scared to tell anyone about it in fear of being put down or no one would hear them. Well I posted something on my facebook account about it and about it and a friend of mine whom also is a Cervical Cancer survivor caught wind of it and called me. She has been an open ear for me and she introduced me to Tamika and Friends organization. I was excited to hear of more and more stories like mine out there. I wasn’t alone in this fight. I was delighted to be apart of the Washington Dc trip in January 2010 because I felt I was one voice and not just a statistic to of this terrible monster. If we can get our voices together and speak as one loud voice we will be heard and we’ve saved one less girl, teenager, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend from the pain that we have endeavored.