Tamika Felder was diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer at age 25. She underwent a radical hysterectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the uterus, and abandoned her dreams to bear children.

Discovering how she got it was a shock of its own.

"Finding out that it was linked to a sexually transmitted virus, I can't even explain what went through my body and my mind when I found that out," said Felder, now 31.

Experts say women in the black community have the highest mortality rate of any group affected by cervical cancer, a phenomenon that can mostly be attributed to lack of insurance and education about human papillomavirus, or HPV.

"Cervical cancer wasn't one of those cancers that was talked about, or that I knew about," Felder said at a news conference at Columbia University last week.

And though treatment sent her cancer into remission, there's still a 20 percent chance her cancer may return. Felder said the ordeal has given her a greater appreciation for life.

"You just never know when it could be taken away," she said.

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TAKING ACTION

Felder, who lives in Upper Marlboro, Md., has partnered with The Balm in Gilead group, a non-governmental organization that seeks to improve women's health in the black community, to help spread awareness of HPV. The sexually transmitted virus is responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer.

The U.S. government approved the first vaccination for cervical cancer, known as Gardsil, last June. Since then, 18 states have proposed legislation that would make the vaccine mandatory for girls around the age of 12. These proposals have created a fierce debate, with some conservative groups arguing that such requirements would lead to sexual promiscuity.

In a statement posted on its Web site, Focus on the Family, a religious family advocacy group, said they support the availability of the vaccine, but oppose laws that would make it necessary for entry into public school.

"The decision of whether to vaccinate a minor against this or other sexually transmitted infections should remain with the child's parent or guardian," the statement said.

Realizing the need to inform women in conservative settings — who may be unaware of the risks HPV poses — The Balm and Gilead group sought out church leaders in the black community when they launched their public awareness campaign, the ISIS (Intimate Sessions for Informed Sexuality) Project, in March of 2005.

"We have our family units, but in the African American community, the church is basically the root — the root of that family," Felder said. "It's very important to have the partnership with the church because in a way, it's saying, 'If it's OK to do this in church, it's OK to talk about it, it's OK to go back home and have a dialogue.'"

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PREVENTION: THE BEST CURE

The Balm organization tours 10 cities from Chicago to Miami, speaking about the risks that HPV poses to black women. It also promotes a culture of dialogue focused on prevention first.

"There is a great need for education across the country of African-American women on this topic," said Dr. Anafidelia Tavares, an advocate for the Balm in Gilead organization. "This is a preventable cancer, it's 100 percent preventable, and it's one of the few cancers where that's the case," Tavares said. "There is time between when these cells are becoming abnormal, before they progress to cervical cancer, so we can get those abnormal cells and take them out."

Dr. Tavares noted that the vaccination "is not the only weapon" against HPV, and it is only effective against the two types that are responsible for causing 70 percent of all cervical cancer cases.

"We want women to know about all their medical options," she said. "The Pap and the HPV test are what we have right now that can help women today in terms of preventing cervical cancer."

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asap contributor Tracee Herbaugh is works on the AP's international desk.

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