In this day and time, a world scarey, not to mention DANGEROUS now days...it truly amazes me the STIGMAS placed on people DAILY.
To actually think (and know) people are TOO afraid to go to a Doctor to save their lives out of FEAR they will be labled as some "whore, slut, cheater...or whatever" because they have HPV...Worse, to HIDE your condition for fear of the same lables...from family friends or anyone for that matter...PREVENTS the TRUE HORRIFIC ENDURANCES millions of people are suffering right now. How the heck can the general public be EDUCATED if they are LEFT IN THE DARK about a DISEASE one could develope in their bodies? The media, doctors..healthcare companies and etc would definitely OPENLY talk about a subject oh lets say:" IT HAS BEEN PROVEN THAT GRAPEFRUIT IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF BREAST CANCER!" or "CERVICAL CANCER HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE RELATED TO BATH SALTS!" No one would hide and or cringe over a friend/neighbor/family member from developing cancer from eating GRAPEFRUIT!!! OR someone getting Cervical CANCER from having a routine of bathing in bath salts!!! SEX is a PART OF LIFE...be it with ONE PARTNER or not..and we should NOT be embarrassed IN ANY WAY, especially if you contract a DISEASE that caused you to ENDURE CANCER!
Commercials for the HPV vaccine...SLUFF over HPV in general...they simply say IT can cause cervical cancer (two types of HPV)...and can cause "other gyn related diseases"......GIVE ME A BREAK...OTHER RELATED DISEASES??? How about CERVICAL CANCER...VAGINAL CANCER...ANAL CANCER...ORAL CANCER...not to mention if ONE mestizes and goes to oh the brain, kidneys, bladder, colon, bones, ETC. ETC. ETC!
I've ALWAYS admitted to anyone that would listen WHY I HAVE BATTLED CANCER OVER N OVER N OVER for going on nearly 30 years...HOW do we get EVERYONE to come forward to HELP EDUCATE, PREVENT a "DISEASE" to continue to ruin lives WITHOUT STIGMA?
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Can we STOP the madness?
- By Dacattmell
- Posted September 21, 2008 at 5:08 pm · 8 replies
- In Fighting the stigma of STI cancers
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Cancer Carcinoma in situ HPV Lung cancer Pancreatic cancer Gardasil Cervical cancer Breast cancer
8 replies
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- Newest first
- By ShaundraNCCC-AZ
- Posted September 21, 2008 at 7:24 pm
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AMEN Dac! I was in LA for a fundraiser for the NCCC the night "Stand Up to Cancer" was on TV, I stood up right in the middle of Chuy's while out to dinner with some friends and I literally stood up, and announced to everyone in the restaurant I was standing up to cancer! I announced that I had Cervical Cancer 10 years ago and that it is nothing to be ashamed of and for everyone to encourage the women in their lives to have their annual paps and HPV testing over 30. I had several people reach out to me and share their stories. It was amazing. So although I don't think everyone should necessarily stand up and shout their diagnosis at the tops of their lungs during mealtime in a public restaurant, please know that there ARE people out there trying to break down the stigma.
Keep up the good fight! Shaundra
- By Dacattmell
- Posted September 22, 2008 at 12:04 am
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THANK YOU Shaundra...Congrats on your courage!!! Yes I agree there are times and places to 'reveal' but I'm also NOT ASHAMED...I did NOTHING WRONG...yet I was HIT with the devastation of HPV that resulted in cancer. And I hold NO JUDGEMENTS on ANYONE with HPV anymore than I'd hold a judgement on someone with Breast cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, etc. etc. etc. People get LUNG CANCER even if they've NEVER SMOKED...so do all lung cancer victims suffer STIGMA??? NOPE I HIGHLY doubt that they do. We as a HUMAN RACE need to RALLY AROUND ANY AND EVERYONE and HELP in ANYWAY we can to FIGHT DISEASES of ALL KINDS...WITHOUT STIGMA or JUDGEMENT!
- By china-girl-mommie
- Posted September 22, 2008 at 11:59 pm
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Yes, it's sad that people label cancer, I'm a cervical cancer survivor, and I've been married to the same man for 30 years. He has been my one and only partner. Now explain that. When my oncology gyn told me I had cc. I said whats the cause. He said premisques sex and cigerettes. I was pissed off. I told him that I had never had sex with anyone but my hubby. What my husband did before me mightbe a different story. I know hes always been faithful to me. No question aqbout that. I did smoke from age 17 to age 36. Haven't had one since.I'm far from a whore or slut, and would never even consider someone being one just because they have had cc. I hate when people label others.
I'm glad to be alive and here on earth, with my sweet little girl I adopted from China 2 months before I found out I had cancer.
Lovin life,
China Mommie
- By Dacattmell
- Posted September 23, 2008 at 12:28 am
- Report post
Hugs to you China Mommie...so sorry your own dr. made his information to you the way he did...hard to 'stomach' a DOCTOR being so UNcompassionate. PRAISE BE TO GOD...you are a SUVIVOR>>>CONGRATS!!! May you, your hubby and precious child live long, HEALTHY, HAPPY and PROSPERIOUS!
Hugs to you!
- By Bloodflowers909
- Posted November 6, 2008 at 2:40 am
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I was ashamed when I was first diagnosed with high-risk HPV, but when I was diagnosed with carcinoma in situ, I stopped being embarrassed. I am no longer ashamed, I use my experiences to inform people. Its hard though because some people are just ignornant. I remember when I was diagnosed with carcinoma in situ, my sister (who is very religious) said God was punishing me for contracting HPV! I couldnt believe my own sister would say such a thing. I just started thinking after that that I need to inform people about HPV and cervical cancer, and get rid of the stigma and judgements that come with all diseases and viruses.
- By khumpal
- Posted November 6, 2008 at 9:18 am
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As the HPV Project Coordinator for the Family Planning Council of Iowa, I work to educate the state's legislators about HPV, cervical cancer, and the HPV vaccine, Gardasil. It's amazing that I have some support in the legislature from representatives who understand HPV & the devestating affects of the disease as a sexually transmitted infection. However, I also work with legislators who only talk to me when I frame HPV as it relates to cervical cancer...they don't want to hear about 'sexually transmitted' and continue to stigmatize women who have HPV. I am working, at the state level, to ensure that stigma is eliminated and we can have honest conversations about how to prevent HPV-related cancers...keep up the good fight, friends. Talk, talk, talk!!
- By Jenna_Can_Conquer_It
- Posted November 6, 2008 at 10:37 am
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It is hard sometimes to tell someone you have cc or dysplasia. Ive been there and I know that look on their face when they connect it to HPV but do not want to say that to you. Ive had friends that are so uninformed but yet think they can label me. My one friend tries to argue with me that HPV and Herpes are one in the same. She has herpes but Im somehow worse because I have a disease that effects my health worse than her HPV. I am glad someone wrote this post. I really get sick of not being able to talk to someone about this in my life because I am scared of their reaction to me having an std. And then you get some people that do not even know the connection lol. So that is always great explaining to them how this all works.
- By Jenna_Can_Conquer_It
- Posted November 6, 2008 at 10:38 am
- Report post
correction: She has herpes but Im somehow worse because I have a disease that effects my health worse than her herpes.
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