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My name is Amy Hodgson
and I am a cervical cancer survivor.
In June of 1990, after I graduated high school,
got a letter in the mail saying you have cancer.
The screening process
for cervical cancer is a pap smear.
Pap smear initiation should start at age 21.
I think one of the unfortunate parts
of cervical cancer is that patients are in their
childbearing years, very productive years
in life, late 20s, 30s, 40s, are busy
taking care of their children,
their spouses, their families, working.
They don't go to get their pap smear.
After treatment, my doctor came in one day
and took me by my hand and said, Amy
you're never going to be able to have children.
And I just said... okay.
Twenty-first birthday, I'm pregnant.
Scared to death, happy and excited but scared to death.
Because of what I'd been told,
everything I've been through.
I tell him he's my miracle child,
because he is.
HPV Vaccine that's been available since 2006
is a recommended vaccine by multiple medical agencies.
It is recommended between the ages of 9-26,
but I personally believe that the perfect age for girls
to get this vaccine is probably around 10, 11, and 12.
Our hopes are that over a period of decades,
it's gonna reduce the mortality associated
with cervical cancer to the point,
hopefully reducing it by 70% or 80%,
just the way the pap smear has
over the preceding 60 years.
Prevention, I think is the key.
Screening, screening, screening.
If I could convey one thing to the girls
and women out there is
don't bury your head in the sand.
Please go get your pap smear.
You can, unfortunately, be diagnosed with
advanced stage cervical cancer and it can end your life.
Why wait?
Why wait until it's stage four
and there is nothing we can do?
Why put off being screened?
Cancer doesn't necessarily have to be a death sentence.
I am living proof of that.
And I still had children.
I beat the odds and I am thankful for that.
