
Marissa Jaret Winokur (recently from Dancing With The Stars) was at the top of her game in 2000, living her dream and being on Broadway when the unspeakable happened, she was diagnosed with Cervical Cancer. She went on with her life because that’s they way she wanted it, getting a hysterectomy and going on to win to a Tony for her performance in Hairspray. What was the reason Marissa had cancer? HPV-a sexually transmitted virus.
Marissa now is an advocate of HPV. Something that can be caught and treated. You can totally recover from HPV, if it is caught soon enough. And this isn’t a deadly disease, you just may lose your child bearing organs because of it. Marissa speaks to people about how they can prevent the disease, she feels that if she didn’t it would be selfish of her to know the information and not help others with it.
I had a chance to attend a seminar of sorts that was held by The HPV Test people to bring out the information to everyone. I myself have had a hysterectomy (and I have found out through the seminar that I should still get tested for HPV even though my doctor said no) and I can still try to help others in getting their HPV tests. Marissa stressed that if you are over the age of 30 you must ask your doctor for the test. They won’t give it to you unless they find your PAP is abnormal…which Marissa’s was abnormal only after she found out she already had Cancer. So stress to your doctor that you are being an advocate for yourself and your health and ask for the test. (Also, I need to note, even if you have had the HPV vaccine it doesn’t mean you are 100% protected, you should still have a HPV test yearly.)
If your HPV test comes out positive it doesn’t mean you have Cancer, it means the doctor will keep a closer eye on you to prevent it. So you win in the end.
Now, Marissa got to keep her ovaries when she had her hysterectomy, and is now having a baby through a surrogate. (I also found out that she has comes to KnockedUpCelebs too, so if you are reading Marissa, HELLO!!) She said her baby boy is due in six weeks and couldn’t be more excited. You can’t help but be happy for her too when she smiles the way she does!
Go to the website, The HPV Test, and find out more information about HPV and how you can prevent getting Cervical Cancer. In the end, we’ll all be winning.
UPDATE: As part of Marissa Jaret Winokur’s ongoing pledge to herself she is wanting women to go out and pledge that they will empower themselves and get the HPV test. Go The HPV Test for more information on her pledge and see the Q&A session that I got to attend myself.
Photo Source: Retna via Celebrity Wonder