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Summer 2016 : My Moon Shot

My Moon Shot

Kara Million, of Houston, is a mother of two and a two-time cancer survivor. A volunteer for myCancerConnection and an advocate for raising awareness about the human papillomavirus (HPV), Kara says the Moon Shots Program will be key to ending cancer for good.

BY Kara Million

Photo by Adolfo Chavez III

When I first heard of the Moon Shots Program, I was sitting in Dr. (Kathleen) Schmeler's office. She had just learned that the HPV-related cancers had been selected for the program. She was excited. I was excited for her!

HPV affects eight out of 10 people. It affected me in 2004, when I found out that I had the virus that could cause cervical cancers. I hadn't heard of it before then.

I was at my gynecologist's office for my annual exam, and they asked if I'd like to be tested for HPV. I wasn't having any issues, so I wasn't worried about the test.

Then the results came back: positive for strands of the virus linked to cervical cancer. My doctor assured me I was OK, but that we would be doing exams every six months, to keep an eye on things.

Being a busy mom, I let my regular check-ups lapse. When I went in for my exam in 2009, they found cancer on my cervix. It was at stage IIIA. I underwent six weeks of radiation along with chemotherapy and two weekends of internal radiation. After several months of recovery, it appeared that the cancer was gone.

Just a year later, the cancer was back. I am thankful to still be here.

Now that I realize how important the Moon Shots Program is to getting the word out about HPV, I am very hopeful the program will help bring awareness of HPV and the HPV vaccine. I hope it becomes a routine vaccination that we give all our children. The HPV-related Cancers Moon Shot can help find a way to eradicate cancers that affect so many.

What's your moon shot? Contact us at promise@mdanderson.org and tell us why MD Anderson's Moon Shots Program is important to you.

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