Michelle PatriciaAs much as I’ve wanted and reminded myself to, I have not gotten down to starting a blog yet. I am not a celebrity but a young 27 yr old, who had a close encounter abt 3-4 yrs back, when the doctor at the polyclinic suggested me for a thorough check-up at KKH, due to some heavy discharge. And she prepped me that the worse case scenario would be the possibility of me being diagnosed with cervical cancer.
Its strange how people (like me, for instance) are equipped with knowledge from textbooks and info easily accessible from the web, but they do not manage their health as much as they preach to family and friends. A little fear set in, and as I waited for the appointment date to arrive, I talked to close friends about ”What If I am diagnosed with cervical cancer?”. The anxiety level was worse than sitting for your school examinations.
Finally, the “big day” arrived. The doctor took a few samples and told me the results would be mailed to me soon. ”If you hear from us, its bad news. If you don’t, its good,” he told me. So I went home and waited. Then one day, about a week after, I got a letter from KKH. The results turned out fine, satisfactory smear, nil malignancy. Phew! What a Relief!
I know of friends who have not gone for any PAP smear because they do not see cervical cancer as much of a danger than your other average cancer/illnesses. I have urged some of my very close girlfriends to go for their PAP smear, after my close shave encounter. And because there is hardly any symptom, and the HPV can stay in you for a long time, it is important we do our checks regularly. I guess most women probably think it will strike only when they are old.
Hope my story helps. 
Hi Michelle.
I too was unfortunately a victim to this scary disease. I was diagnosed in my early 20’s when I was at University in Australia.
Then, I had no idea what I had, had to go thru a laser treatment process, which help me get rid of the cancer, and was also on medication for a couple of years. It was very hard for me then as I didnt have many friends just couple family members, whom to say the least didn’t know much abt Cervical cancer. Had I had not pursued that funny tingling feeling, and question the doctor abt the unusual discharge, and follow what my body wanted me to do at that time. I would have been gone by now. Lucky mine was only in the early stages of displayxia (cancer). so the surgeons could have it lasered out.
So, yes,a serious advice to those girls past puberty and women who are sexually active.. please do an annual pap test, its nothing scary, nothing as scary as a doctor telling you that if you had gone and done your pap test annually, you would have detected your condition earlier and save yourself. Please listen to your body and seek advice if you feel that something is not right!
Good luck girls…you can ask for a female doctor you know…. and to luck to your annual pap test pap test pap test…
firstly, Michelle, i’m glad you’re okay!!! and thank you for writing in. i think everyone behind this campaign will agree that every experience shared here is important, and will mean something to someone. so please don’t ever feel you have nothing to say as you’ve already shared some great things. come back again soon!!
Great article Thank
you so much!
great blog, thank you so much