In the fall of 2009, Heather Jones, an alumni of Sinclair, was diagnosed with cervical cancer.
“I was watching The Price is Right and then a commercial for a research study came on offering free pap smears to women who would come and get one,” Jones said. “Well, I didn’t have an excuse not to go because it was free and it ended up saving my life.”
After a series of on-going testing, Jones got a call from her oncologist.
“I had to brace myself because I knew there was going to be bad news,” she said. “But the hardest part was getting the courage to tell my family and friends that there was a possibility of bad news without them knowing.”
Right after the quarter ended, she had a hysterectomy in which her ovaries were removed and in January, she underwent radiation and Chemotherapy.
She is now in remission.
A year later, she has organized an awareness fundraiser to be held at Blind Bob’s in the Oregon District on Saturday, Jan. 29, called Rock Your Ribbon 2011. The event will start at 10 p.m. There will be an entrance fee of $5 and all proceeds will be donated to the National Cervical Cancer Coalition and the Noble Circle Project.
“I think it is important to raise awareness because the topic is so taboo,” Jones said. “Women need to be aware because it affects them, but mainly because there is a stigma associated with cervical cancer, but how can women know how to prevent cervical cancer, if they don’t know.”
Something she said she hopes will change after the event.
“What was really eye opening to me was that even my own mom and I hadn’t felt comfortable enough to talk about it.” Jones said. “And that tells me that there are other girls and women just like us.
According to healthywomen.org, “Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a virus that often causes no symptoms but can cause cervical cancer. It is estimated that 20 million Americans have the disease but are unaware because HPV is a silent infection.”
“When I was diagnosed, people kept asking me, did you feel different? I didn’t,” she said. “There were no symptoms to indicate that I was even sick. And that is the scary part.”
While the Rock your Ribbon 2011 fundraiser is primarily for cervical cancer awareness, Jones said any woman who has ever had cancer can attend.
“This event is to raise awareness for those who don’t know what HPV or cervical cancer is and to provide emotional support for women,” she said. “So that women won’t be afraid to talk about it and it won’t be something that is just discussed behind closed doors.”
Now that she is in remission, she said courage has made her want to talk to other women about her ordeal because she doesn’t want other women “to have to go through what she did.”
“Find a doctor you can trust, get the regular check-ups, get the Pap test,” she said. “Because in the end it is worth it and it may save your life.”