HPV Awareness Raised Through Music
I was young, healthy and in a long-term relationship when I learned two years ago I was infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) which can cause cervical cancer. As a Middleport, NY native now living in Philadelphia, I was shocked and overwhelmed with emotion. Within a month, I had to undergo surgery to remove precancerous cells. I knew little then about HPV.
Today, at age 29, I am working to ensure others are armed with information about HPV and how to prevent it though a non-profit corporation I founded called Concerts for a Cure. I’m an architect by day and musician by night. I was featured in the Feb. ’08 issues of Glamour, Elle, Cosmopolitan and Shape magazines. The ad was about my background and why I formed Concerts for a Cure and a few common facts about HPV. Concerts for a Cure is an annual benefit concert aimed at raising awareness for HPV. I created the non-profit corporation because of the intense emotions I experienced due to my lack of knowledge. I hope to educate others so they won’t experience those same emotions.
Since its debut in 2008, we raised over $10,000, founded it as a non-profit corporation, obtained major corporate sponsors, and took it to a national stage. The 2009 season raised the bar when we hosted six-time Grammy nominated Joan Osborne. We’ve been featured on Philly’s NBC 10! Show, the nationally syndicated morning show Better Philly as well as on air on 95.7 WBEN FM and 88.5 WXPN. While our main goal is HPV awareness, we also hope to provide financial assistance with testing, vaccination, education and/or other programs for those with little or no health insurance. In the future if funding permits we would like to extend this contribution to organizations that work with developing countries where that need is so great. I am hoping you will be interested in helping make this goal happen. Please help us take this story to a national level so as to educate others in the hopes of preventing future cervical cancer cases.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
Add a Comment13 Comments
Studies are showing that over 50% of the population is exposed to HPV. In 90% of the cases the virus passes through a woman's body in two years. I applaud the work that you are doing in promoting HPV awareness. However, building the immune system is a sure way to dodge the virus - as with all other viruses. When our bodies become acidic vs. alkaline (processed foods vs. live foods) viruses will come out and play. Some words of caution regarding the promotion of the HPV vaccines: there are now more than 19,000 reported adverse reactions more than there are cases of cervical cancer. Also according to the FDA documents if a woman already has HPV and gets the vaccine her chances of getting cervical cancer increase 44.6%. In fact, two years post-Gardasil, there are many women reporting abnormal paps (cervical lesions and cervical cancer.)
There are now 60 deaths (reported to VAERS - between 1 to 10% reporting) and more accounts of deaths around the world. All of this information is being compiled to share with respective governments. I would caution you and other women to educate before you vaccinate.
February 11, 2010 - 6:23pmThis Comment
Dear Anonymous,
February 12, 2010 - 7:42amI volunteer for the National Cervical Cancer/International HPV Cancer Coalition and I would like a copy of "the FDA documents" you cite in regard to women having HPV and increasing cervical cancer risk by 44.6%. In regard to your statement about 60 deaths reported to VAERS, I would also appreciate copies of those records, as when I was on the VAERS system last week, I was unable to find anything that referenced a definitive link of any HPV vaccination being a direct cause in any deaths, but my search may have been flawed so if you can share those particular documents I would be most appreciative. As a 10 year cervical cancer survivor, and as a lecturer on cervical cancer and HPV, it is my responsiblity to make sure I have the most accurate and updated information in regard to all things HPV so if the medical and scientific community that I have been consulting with is errant, I will be sure to share your cited statistics and documents with them, provided they are based on scientifically & medically reliable published data. Please feel free to send all supporting evidence to your above referenced claims and statistics. Your efforts are much appreciated. (Note: Personal email address removed by EmpowHER moderator.)
At Concerts for a Cure, our goal is HPV awareness. Vaccination is something each patient should talk to her doctor about on an individual basis. It is not a part of our message to promote or oppose the vaccine. That is an issue each woman should discuss with her doctor. However, thank you for sharing the statistics and information, perhaps it will help initiate learning.
February 12, 2010 - 8:15amShaundra - & Mary Beth - first of all I apologize for not taking the time to log in on this site. My blog is http://holyhormones.com. If you look under Global Concerns about Gardasil and Gardasil Victims you will find the FDA VRBPC documents that I am referring to. Shaundra I will also email you privately. I have copied the link to your response to my colleagues around the world who are working on the issue. We are in the process of preparing a webinar on parental concerns about Gardasil to the FDA. I will be glad to email you the findings from our research, the power point and the handouts that we will be using for this presentation as soon as it is over. I along with a global network of women and men have been working diligently on this issue for the past three years. (Note: Personal email address removed by EmpowHER moderator.)
February 12, 2010 - 9:16amThere is one other piece of information that I think you should both be aware of that backs up the FDA VRBPAC document stating there is a 44.6% increase in cervical cancer if a young woman gets the vaccine and has already been exposed to HPV. According to the NVIC there have been 272 cases of abnormal pap smears reported to VAERS post vaccination. http://holyhormones.com/womens-health/cervical-cancer/274-events-with-ab.... When I posted this there were 274 events....it has since been revised to 272.
February 12, 2010 - 9:41amAnd if you would like to read what girls are saying about the adverse reactions they are experiencing from the HPV vaccines - go to the 300 plus posts on the Medications.com web site. http://www.medications.com/se/gardasil. Also go to http://truthaboutgardasil.org. I have over 1,000 article posted on Gardasil and Cervarix on my blog as well.
February 12, 2010 - 10:09amAnd now there are more posts on the Oprah.com site. 48 responses to "Reaction to Gardasil" - the latest one posted today -http://www.oprah.com/community/message/1254887
February 12, 2010 - 11:48amI was diagnosed with an irregualar pap spear for pre cancerous cells over 20 years ago and had treatment. At 42 I just recently gave birth to a healthy baby girl. My pap last week was normal. HPV and irregular pap smear is not a huge drama. While its good to encourage others to empower themselves with good health and a strong immune system that can in turn easily deal with an HPV virus, I think there is alot of fear mongering going on- this vaccine is redefining this issue with "alarmist" proportions. While the "idea" of the vaccine and anyone would support the idea - sounds good - the reality is much different it's potentially more dangerous when you look at the amount of young girls and women being harmed by the vaccine. www.truthaboutgardsasil.org Get a regular pap smear without risking your health prematurely to a vaccine with alot of unknowns and one that contains alot of known toxins.
February 13, 2010 - 5:50amDoes anyone know if these HPV vaccines will (or currently are) mandatory, in order to attend school?
As of now, my girls will not take the vax (we're years away from the recommended age anyway) but the notion of this being mandatory bothers me. I know there was a push to make it mandatory is some states but I'm unaware of any decisions made.
Does anyone know?
February 13, 2010 - 5:56amSusan - I am not as well read on the legislative aspect. I believe that Texas has the vaccine mandated. NY state was trying to pass a law earlier this week mandating vaccines for young adults without parental consent. That bill was defeated. The state was a testing ground to see if it would hold up elsewhere across the country. British Columbia has a similar law on their books as well as the United Kingdom. Even though your daughters are young - you must be vigilant on this now...because there are many more proposed vaccines coming down the pike. Make sure you are aware of what the religious exemptions are in your state and do not let the government take them away.
Just to clarify - it is not the vaccine - per se - it is the dirty toxins (adjuvants/preservatives) that are added to the vaccine that are causing neurological damage. This in combination with our daily exposure to high levels of environmental toxins is causing a biochemical reaction to a chemical cocktail of unknown proportions.
Late last year the National Hormone Institute issued a press release from a study stating that cases of Alzheimer's now out rank cases of breast and prostate cancer combined. Neurological breakdowns and not pathological disease are the biggest concerns for your children and their children.
We have been examining the damage that we have done to our environment for a long time. We now need to examine the damage the environment is doing to us. Vaccines are a major player in damaging the neurotransmitters in the brain- subsequently affecting the immune and endocrine systems causing imbalance throughout the body.
February 13, 2010 - 9:06am