A Pearl of Wisdom

Cervical cancer is my ghost.

When I was 21 my doctor told me she was "pretty sure" I had it. After much hysteria and testing, it turns out that she was wrong. I'm not even going to go into how insane it was that she diagnosed me like that without hard facts and reams of positive test results. I can't even describe the big sigh of relief I had for weeks on end when the results were negative. However, I've had to spend the last 12 years being extra-vigilant, enduring more tests and in general wondering if this will be my end result.

While at Blogher this summer I happened to meet the group behind 'Pearl of Wisdom'. I was lucky enough to meet Michelle Whitlock and learn about her incredible survivor story. I believe, like Michelle, that the more we educate and spread awareness about this entirely preventable type of cancer that less women will lose their fertility and lives to this disease. I wanted to help Michelle and the Pearl of Wisdom people get the word out. It is so important to know that cervical cancer is preventable. Just by using the Pap test, the HPV test and the HPV vaccine you can keep those icky cancer cells in check and breathe easy knowing you are in the clear.

Join me in getting the conversation started. Pearl of Wisdom is asking women to wear their Pearl of Wisdom pin and submit to the campaign a photo of themselves wearing it (photos can be fun or serious). Photos will be featured on the campaign’s site, and everyone who submits one will be eligible to win a cool prize when the promotion ends October 31st. SO- I'm giving away FIVE pins. Enter to win by commenting. I'll send the first five readers their pins!