Three years ago, Bridgette *, wife and mother of two young children, was shocked when a routine Pap smear identified abnormal cells. Bridgette was devastated when additional tests confirmed that she had HPV-related cancer.
HPV (human papillomavirus) is a sexually transmitted virus that infects 85% of sexually active people during their lifetime. For most people, the infection clears up on its own, but it’s not always the case, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For some, the virus can remain in the body and cause certain cancers and HPV-related illnesses later in life, says the CDC. There is no way to predict who will or will not eliminate the virus.
As a nurse used to caring for others, being patient was a challenge for Bridgette. “It took me a little while to understand all of this,” she says.
Developing an action plan
Bridgette’s journey began with an abnormal Pap smear at a routine gynecologist appointment. He continued with a biopsy that showed that she had stage one cervical cancer. Bridgette, who is now in her 30s, was diagnosed at a much younger age than the average onset of HPV-related cervical cancer, which is around 49, according to the CDC. For some people who do not eliminate the virus, the diagnosis of cervical cancer can occur years or decades after infection, and individuals can be diagnosed with cervical cancer between the ages of 20 and 80. For Bridgette, an HPV-related cancer diagnosis raised many questions and it was difficult to understand its new reality. “I knew that HPV could cause cancer,” she says, “but I also thought it couldn’t happen to me.”
Within a few weeks, she met with a gynecological oncologist to work out a treatment plan, which included radiation and chemotherapy. When detected at an early stage, the five-year survival rate for women with invasive cervical cancer is about 90 percent. “After seeing the gynecological oncologist, we had hope because we were able to have a plan and know what we needed to do,” says Bridgette.
Bridgette’s treatment was successful and she is cancer-free and is grateful for the support of her family and care team on her way to recovery.
Lessons from your journey against cancer
Bridgette recognizes how important it is to have a strong support system during cancer treatment. “If I could go back in time and say something to myself when I was first diagnosed, I would say to ask for help and then allow myself to be sick,” she says. “I thought I could conquer the world, but just allowing myself to rest when I needed to rest and knowing that people would help me was very important.”
When Bridgette was diagnosed with HPV-related cervical cancer, she was in total shock; she never thought it could happen to her. Hear more about her experience with HPV-related cervical cancer in this video, courtesy of My history of HPV cancer.
No matter what happens, Bridgette remains committed to sharing her story and educating others. Not everyone realizes that HPV can cause cervical cancer, she says, adding, and “not only are women at potential risk for HPV-related cancer, but men are also at risk.”
Bridgette also learned to live in the moment. “Being diagnosed with cervical cancer allowed me to stop for a moment and know that life is precious and that we shouldn’t think too much about things,” she says. “We must allow ourselves not to be so rushed. I learned to enjoy my children and my husband because that is what really matters ”.
What you may not know about HPV-related cancers and diseases
Because HPV generally has no visible signs or symptoms, someone with the virus can pass it on without knowing it. For most people, HPV disappears on its own. But for some women, HPV can cause some types of cancer and diseases like cervical cancer, like Bridgette. Individuals should talk to their doctor about the potential risk of HPV-related cancer.
“Most of the patients I see have some idea and understanding of HPV, but there is still a lot of misinformation about it,” says Pari Ghodsi, MD, a certified Los Angeles-based OB-GYN. “The more people talk about HPV among themselves and also with their doctors, the more we can open up the conversation and, hopefully, pass on the right knowledge to everyone.”
Here are four CDC HPV-related cancer statistics:
The estimated number of people in the U.S. who are diagnosed with HPV-related cancers each year, according to 2013-2017 data.
An HPV-related cancer can take years, even decades, to develop after a person contracts an HPV infection. For most, HPV goes away on its own.
The estimated number of new cases of HPV-related cervical cancer in the USA annually (1998-2017).
HPV is believed to be the cause of more than 90% of cervical cancer cases.
What can you do?: According to Dr. Ghodsi, the first step is simply to realize that HPV-related cancer can affect you. Start a conversation with your doctor about what you can do to keep track of your health, such as having a routine Pap test to detect cervical cancer. You can also take steps to learn more about the link between HPV and certain types of cancer and diseases by visiting My HPV cancer history.
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