A girl thing

One of the benefits of being a blogger, even a lesser known blogger, is that you get invited to cool parties. Normally, when someone or some entity invites you to one of their cool parties, they expect, or at least hope, you'll blog about it.

Normally I'm able to skirt the issue by posting an event on Savvy Source, where I put in a handful of hours a week, or by tweeting it, etc. I hate to use this space, this white column between the yellow and green columns on All Adither, for anything remotely commercial. It's all my creative ramblings, my photos, and I want to keep it that way.

But last Monday night, some nifty women from theYellowUmbrella.org, came to Seattle, threw a small bash with food, drinks, cupcakes, musician Christine Baze and eye palette giveaways by Debra Macki (smart, because I don't know any woman, besides maybe my sister, who can resist a cute eye palette). They hoped we would help them spread the word about cervical cancer prevention. I couldn't say no.

I've never had cervical cancer, no one in my family has had cervical cancer. But I do know what it feels like to be told you've had an irregular pap and to have to undergo a cervical biopsy, which HURTS like a mother fucker (and I still say this after having two kids). I can sort of, in my worst nightmares, imagine the crushing panic of being told you do, indeed, have cancer. That's what happened to Baze, at the age of 31. She's a gregarious, cool, stunningly talented singer who isn't afraid to get out there and talk about her chemo, radiation, loss of fertility, and her cervix if it'll convince other women to get regular paps and tests for HPV (which can cause cervical cancer).

So, as a tiny-time blogger, that's my message today. Get tested for HPV. Go to your gyno once a year (without fail, ladies) and convince other women in your life to do the same.

And if you comment on this post by Saturday at 10pm Pacific Daylight Savings Time, I'll choose one of you at random to receive a free Debra Macki eye palette.

That is all.

Comments

[m]

I agree..get tested..it can only be a GOOD thing to do for yourself.

[Jennifer Jo]

My hubby had testicular cancer---that's the closest I've been to the C-monster. (Not counting my friend's husband who is dying now, and her baby that had cancer, and lived. None of those were c-cancer, though. But wait, you didn't want us to report on all our cancers, did you?)

"Take care of yourself"---it's a good message to spread.

[Sarah]

I've also been there and luckily it wasn't cancer...

I wish they'd told me how much those biopsies were going to blow though. Geez. Hopefully I'll never have to go through that again...but I'm practically on a fist name/christmas gift basis with every one in my OB/GYN office now. Yipee!

[Stacy]

An excellent use of your space; good for you for spreading the word.

(And, as you know, no need to add my name into the hat for that eye palette...)

[bionicanna]

I lost my sister to cervical cancer two years ago...she put up quite a fight but in the end it was too much. She was dignosed way too late and it was too far gone to be defeated. She left behind three beautiful children and we are heartbroken without her. Early detection is definitely the most powerful weapon in the fight against this monster.

[All Adither]

I'm sorry you lost your sister and that her children lost their mother. That's horrific. Truly, my heart goes out to you.

[Rachel]

Using your space for a good cause is worth it. Just saw my doctor today but am always stunned when I hear friends say they don't go regularly after they are done having kids. Taking care of ourselves - in all ways - is always good.

[Colleen]

Listen to Angie ladies! Just this last Friday I went through a LEEP because a cervical biopsy revealed pre-cancerous cells. This is not a pleasant procedure! I skipped 2 years of paps and maybe if I hadn't, I wouldn't be going through this.

Thanks for posting this Angie.

[Vicky]

Good post.

[Patty]

I believe every women should get tested and women need to start taking better care of themselves.

[Stacey]

I've been there too. I've had my cervix frozen twice and two LEEPs. None of it pleaseant, but necessary. I was fortunate that it wasn't cancer. I NEVER miss my yearly exam.

[Kimberly Loomis]

Thanks for the info and the giveaway! I'm adopted, so have no medical history and try to be very careful (even without insurance) to get tested often.

I didn't realize you're in Seattle! That makes you cooler than ever, now!

[Parul]

Thanks for the reminder, i absolutely hate getting the pap and put it off as long as i can :(

[Su]

DONE! :)

[Vanessa McGrady]

Good job. Spread the word, sister! Another great organization for ovarian cancer is www.runforher.com That one sneaks up on you like a spider in the night. The woman who started it was truly amazing and I am changed forever after meeting her. I was lucky to catch a tiny piece of her love before she died.

[kcinnova]

This is one of those times when a blog post is so much more than a blog post. Even though my cervix was removed with my uterus nearly 10 years ago, I still get the pap because I'm told that "stray" cervical cells remain behind.
I have a friend undergoing Chemo for breast cancer right now. It's an incredible tough battle.

[Lisa]

This is a great post--spread the word about getting regular paps far and wide. No one should have to go through what Bionicanna & her family did. Thanks for this.

[Elizabeth S]

Great post! I am continually shocked when I hear women mention so casually that they don't go to the doctor for a yearly exam. It is such a simple step to prevent (and diagnose) a whole host of health problems.

[debbieK]

Thanks for the reminder...i try to go for an annual exam every around my birthday but this year, things were busy...which is no excuse. I'll call my dr. on monday.
My mom had "questionable" cells and had a complete hysterectomy a few years ago...my dr. says we need to just pay attention to mine.
Great post!

[Fae V]

spreading the word is always good! i have some cancer in my family and i'm scared. the eye palette is pretty! :)

[sister]

Eye palette? That's what those are called?

[christine@theyellowumbrella.org]

THANK YOU for helping me spread the word and SAVE THE HOOCH! I don't want ANY other woman to have to go through what i've gone through...
and so I appreciate you remembering the 3 things!
HPV TEST with PAP for women 30+
PAP for women 21-29
HPV VACCINE for girls and young women 9-26

bada bing bada boom... it's as easy as that!
:)
cb