"A Small Step Can Make a Big Difference"

I am 28 years old and a mother of two kids, and I received all three doses of the HPV vaccine.

What propelled me to get the HPV vaccine?

It all started when my maid began complaining of mild pelvic pain. I took her for a check-up, and after a few screenings, she was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

The treatment involved significant expenses. The agony of the situation was that she was too young to face this challenge, and her two children depended on her support for their growth and lives.

In an instant, the entire family was disoriented. Unexpected events can strike life without warning, and her husband was worried about the treatment costs.

I organized a fundraiser, reaching out to friends, family, and the community to rally support for her treatment. Many people united, and donations poured in. While it didn’t solve everything, it provided a glimmer of hope in their darkest hour.

As I was closely involved, I felt the family’s tragic pain and regretted that she hadn’t received the vaccine, which might have prevented her from enduring this hardship.

It affected me profoundly; this was not just individual suffering—it was the complete unraveling of a family. The tiny children, who had yet to grasp the challenges of the world fully, were now facing their first significant hardship: witnessing their mother in distress, unsure if she would survive.

In India, HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for a staggering 83.2% of cervical cancer cases. Reflecting on my experience, I realize that a small step like getting vaccinated can lead to a monumental difference—not just for ourselves, but for the lives we touch.

India: Human Papillomavirus and Related Cancers, Fact Sheet 2023 (hpvcentre.net)