Caoimhe O’Neill Forde, a survivor of cervical cancer, is urging parents to vaccinate their children against the human papillomavirus (HPV) after her own life was profoundly impacted by the disease. Diagnosed at age 26, O’Neill Forde has faced ongoing health challenges, including surgeries every two years since 2012 to treat scarring and adhesions from an initial tumor removal.
"I could be a study in how much anaesthetic one person can take," O’Neill Forde stated, recounting the pain and emotional toll of her repeated procedures. Her diagnosis came as a shock, and the subsequent trachelectomy, a fertility-sparing surgery that removes the cervix but leaves the uterus intact, has led to years of fertility struggles, including losses.
Despite these difficulties, she finds solace in knowing that having a baby can still be possible after such surgery, with several women in Ireland having had successful pregnancies post-trachelectomy. However, the enduring effects of the cancer and its treatment underscore her commitment to raising awareness about HPV-related cancers and the importance of vaccination.
"My whole entire life would be completely different if I had had that option for the sake of one injection," she said, emphasizing the ease and accessibility of the vaccine. Recent research indicates a disparity in concern and understanding regarding HPV among parents, with a significant portion unaware that the virus can lead to various cancers in both girls and boys.
The free HPV vaccine, offered to first-year secondary school students, protects against HPV types linked to most cervical cancers, as well as cancers of the mouth, throat, anus, penis, vulva, and vagina. O’Neill Forde highlighted that the vaccine is free, administered at school, and a simple way to prevent the suffering she has endured.
Her experience draws parallels with that of late HPV vaccine campaigner Laura Brennan, who was also diagnosed at 26. O’Neill Forde also met Vicky Phelan through the 221+ Patient Support Group, crediting both women for their tireless campaigning that has saved lives.
Ireland aims to be cervical cancer-free by 2050, a goal O’Neill Forde ardently supports. "Vaccinate your boys and your girls. I’d like to be the last generation that dies with cervical cancer. Let’s eradicate it," she urged.
A HSE spokesperson affirmed that the vaccine "continues to play an important role in protecting young people against HPV-related cancers and other diseases caused by HPV," and is most effective when administered in the first year of secondary school. Information about the campaign is available on the HSE website or hpvaware.ie.