I will share anything and everything about my own experience with breast cancer -- how I found it, how it was removed, how it was treated, how I fared through the whole ordeal, how I'm surviving now. I figure that if I spread the word about what happened to me, that others will become more aware and some -- especially those with a new diagnosis -- will benefit from whatever wisdom I have to impart. So I am an open book. I talk about breast cancer, answer questions about breast cancer, and probably insert my opinion about the topic to some who don't really care. But I will continue talking and sharing -- and writing -- because the alternative would be a disservice to the few I may be able to help. So a card stuck in the middle of a magazine caught my eye the other day. The slogan on it reads, Tell Someone and the illustrations on this card -- that functions as a postcard -- show women reaching out to other women. There are women talking on the phone and a woman tapping another on the shoulder. The message they appear to be spreading is highlighted in the text below the graphic representation of this campaign to raise awareness of cervical cancer. The message is about HPV -- human papillomavirus -- and about how millions of women already have it and how some don't even know they have it. I learned from reading this card that for some, HPV will clear on its own. But for some, cervical cancer may develop. This is why Pap tests are critical. And so what all women should be telling other women is this -- ask your doctor about the importance of Pap tests. And be active in your own health. And follow all recommendations for detecting health concerns early. I learned from reading this card that I should tell someone about this. And so now I have.
That there is an effective cervical cancer vaccine about to hit the market is encouraging news. Any successful
and safe cancer prevention method is good news. Recently, a public service announcement, PSA, has been airing on
television attempting to raise awareness about the virus that can lead to cervical cancer. The PSA I am seeing is
coming from Merck, one of the drug companies that will be selling the vaccine. Unless I am mistaken, not once does the
PSA mention the vaccine -- only the virus associated with cervical cancer. I believe this is intentional. I believe the
drug company might be anticipating a resistance from the parents of teenage daughters to the vaccine based on ethical
and moral grounds. If I were a drug company, I would quickly and reasonably decide to try to keep the vaccine above the
fray of ethical and moral objections by promoting education about the virus. 
