Rocker Christine Baze Uses Music to Educate About Cervical Cancer
In the end, Baze overcame the adversity, started to thrive again as a performer and in the process founded The Yellow Umbrella Organization.
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January 19, 2010
Rock musician Christine Baze's other notable role is that of cervical cancer survivor. Her diagnosis came in early 2000 and was followed by a grueling round of surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy that took their toll on her body and - even more devastatingly - on her spirit.
During the current Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, the 38-year-old has talked about those difficult months following the completion of her therapy when she had to deal with depression and felt that her musical inspiration had left her, according to Abington Mariner.
In the end, Baze overcame the adversity, started to thrive again as a performer and in the process founded The Yellow Umbrella Organization, which sets out to educate women - and the men who love them, as she says - about how to prevent cervical cancer.
This month, the organization is planning a series of awareness-raising concerts, the biggest of which will take place in Boston.
"I would say to my survivor sisters that we are all beautiful women," said Boze, quoted by CommunityFeministing.com. "My advice would be to live fully - no matter what."
According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 12,000 women in the U.S. were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2005, and 3,924 died from the disease.
Experts say getting a regular Pap smear is the best defense against the disease. In addition, they advise using condoms, which can reduce HPV transmission as the virus is a known cause of the cancer. Women under the age of 27 may also be eligible to receive the HPV vaccine.
Survivors and those who want to donate may consult the website of the National Cervical Cancer Coalition.
Rock musician Christine Baze's other notable role is that of cervical cancer survivor. Her diagnosis came in early 2000 and was followed by a grueling round of surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy that took their toll on her body and - even more devastatingly - on her spirit.
During the current Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, the 38-year-old has talked about those difficult months following the completion of her therapy when she had to deal with depression and felt that her musical inspiration had left her, according to Abington Mariner.
In the end, Baze overcame the adversity, started to thrive again as a performer and in the process founded The Yellow Umbrella Organization, which sets out to educate women - and the men who love them, as she says - about how to prevent cervical cancer.
This month, the organization is planning a series of awareness-raising concerts, the biggest of which will take place in Boston.
"I would say to my survivor sisters that we are all beautiful women," said Boze, quoted by CommunityFeministing.com. "My advice would be to live fully - no matter what."
According to the Centers for Disease Control, nearly 12,000 women in the U.S. were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2005, and 3,924 died from the disease.
Experts say getting a regular Pap smear is the best defense against the disease. In addition, they advise using condoms, which can reduce HPV transmission as the virus is a known cause of the cancer. Women under the age of 27 may also be eligible to receive the HPV vaccine.
Survivors and those who want to donate may consult the website of the National Cervical Cancer Coalition.
