By Jessica Surma | Communications Coordinator
Teresa, 27, is from the small town of San Pedro Las Huertas. Recently, WINGS held a cervical cancer detection and prevention session in the community´s health center. This includes a talk about the causes, risks and methods of prevention of cervical cancer, as well as detection at a subsidized price using the VIA/Cryo method which provides in the moment results.
For Teresa, WINGS’ educational talk was “eye opening.” Before, she says that she had not heard exactly cervical cancer was caused. She now understands the relationship between the human papilloma virus (HPV) and the disease. She also learned that one of the risk factors is heredity, which really caught her attention.
Teresa´s sister María, 33, was diagnosed with cervical cancer two years ago. Teresa saw how she suffered, and not only from physical pain. María also faced the difficulty of consulting doctors who were not familiar with the disease. She visited various doctors who continued to tell her that she had a vaginal infection and only prescribed her antibiotic pills and creams. Finally, she found a doctor who realized the true cause of her problem and got the appropriate medical treatment. Her sister is now healthy, but her family is struggling with the debt brought on by paying for the operation, which cost around US$1300.
Because of how her sister suffered, Teresa has been scared to get tested. Her mother has been encouraging her to take this step for her own well being, but Teresa admits, if WINGS had not come to her community the day of the clinic, she probably would have continued to agonize over whether or not to get tested. Luckily, she was tested the day of the WINGS clinic and had no abnormalities.
Teresa had a message for the donors who make WINGS’ work possible. She says, “May God bless them and their families for the contributions they make. In my community, we are experiencing economic problems which would make these services too expensive without their help
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