Cervical cancer screening in young women: saving lives with prevention and detection.

33 T he full but shortened life of Kristen Forbes is chronicled in the book Love, Kristen, written by her father as a tribute to his young, vivacious, funloving daughter (Forbes, 2009a). Kristen had just graduated from college when, in June 2007, she woke up one morning with a swollen right ankle. The following day, her entire right leg was swollen. At 21 years of age, the unlimited opportunities of life that are awarded to the majority of young women—rewards of college, a career, marriage, children, and a future filled with family and friends— came to a sudden halt for Kristen. By early July, she entered the frightening and uncertain world of cancer. On July 16, her gynecological oncologist found a mass in her pelvis. She was diagnosed with cervical cancer. A patient, particularly a child or young adult, does not travel the cancer journey alone. As Kristen’s personal story unfolded, her father expressed the grief and despair that the family experienced, particularly the despair of a parent whose loving daughter with a hopeful future is suddenly met with the pain, fear, and uncertainty that a cancer diagnosis and treatment brings. Kirk Forbes chronicled the journey that he, his wife, Kristen’s siblings, and close friends shared as they traveled the cancer trajectory standing by her side. Oncology nurses understand when he expresses, “None of us, Dad, Mom, Megan, Kristen, or Eric, ever experienced a serious illness, injury, or hospitalization before this. It was a new experience for all of us. This type of battle consumes everyone’s life . . . including caregivers. Everything else gets put on hold. Every waking moment we were focused on Kristen . . . her illness, treatment, medications, and future” (Forbes, 2009a, p. 15). Kristen Forbes died from cervical cancer on June 1, 2009, at the age of 23. She left behind a deeply personal journal that has given readers the privilege of walkCervical Cancer Screening in Young Women: Saving Lives With Prevention and Detection