"I got my original prescription from an emergency room doctor in Magog. I had seen doctors at the CLSC but didn't have a regular doctor who could write the prescription and every time I called another CLSC they said the same thing, they were not taking new patients," Eryou told The Record. "From that point I got upset and wrote a letter to (Quebec Premier Jean) Charest's offices and the Minister of Health. About two weeks later I got a call from a local doctor who would see me." 

In order to treat Eryou, who had also been complaining of migraines, the doctor ordered a series of tests to provide better treatment. Following a routine pap test the doctor found something out of the ordinary and sent Eryou to a specialist for a colposcopy, a procedure in which a special binocular microscope is used to examine the cervix. 

"I was given a list of gynaecologists who specialize in cancer and went for my first test," she explained. "The doctor had a difficult time with the tests so they had to put me under to complete it. Everything happened really quick." 

In September 2008, Eryou was diagnosed with cervical cancer, one of the most common types of cancer to effect Canadian women. Following the colposcopy and a small biopsy, Eryou experienced the rare side effect of haemorrhaging. Tired and in pain, Eryou opted for a total hysterectomy. 

"They found a benign growth that was the size of a grapefruit," she said. "That would not have been seen without the full hysterectomy." 

But further testing revealed the procedure failed to remove all the cancer from Eryou's body. She was told she still showed signs of the disease in the pelvic area and faced with the choice of another operation or radiation, Eryou choose intensive radiation treatments. 

"We're lucky here that we have such a good hospital; the CHUS is a learning hospital but it's a great one," said Eryou. "But I found the hospital wasn't really there to give me information and I wanted to know what to expect with operations and radiation treatments and understand what my body was going through." 

At the hospital Eryou found only a few relevant pamphlets but they were very basic, outdated and in French. 

"I came home after radiation feeling sick, in pain and didn't have a clue what was going on. I felt it was important to get information in English so my husband, who doesn't understand much French, would understand what we were going through," she said. "I tried contacting the local cancer society but got nothing from them." 

Frustrated at the lack of English information available about her treatment, Eryou turned to the internet and started researching. To cope with her experience she also began blogging her journey on her website www.beyondtheroundabout.com. 

Eventually, Eryou stumbled upon a website for the National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC). Organised by medical professionals, the group provides information on the topic of cervical cancer and human papillomavirus (HPV), facilitates networking between patients and survivors, hosts conferences and provides recent information on prevention, detection, treatment and survivorship. 

"When I found this little non-profit organisation in California they sent me all this information that explained all about what I would feel like, the side effects I would experience and specific suggestions that would make it easier on me," she said. "We do have some of this information in Canada but it is not as detailed, it's very basic and even the statistics on the disease are outdated. NCCC helped me more then my own government did." 

Just having the information, such as a detailed food guide, made Eryou feel more prepared to face the road ahead. As she continues to focus on her battle and recovery, she has concentrated her energy into helping others by becoming a NCCC chapter leader for Quebec. As local leader, she aims to create and sustain an on-going support system for women, families and friends who are facing issues related to cervical cancer, HPV and other HPV cancers. 

"I don't know if I was one of those who just fell through the cracks but I would like to make it easier for people to get information," she said. "Doctors should be providing patients with a list of what to expect, what to feel and how to react." 

Although there are many risk factors associated with cervical cancer, HPV appears to increase the risk from 20 to 100 times according to information posted in 2006 on Health Canada's website. HPV is easily transmitted. According to the NCCC, 80 per cent of all women will have contracted the HPV virus by the time they are 50 years of age. 

The word "cancer," may sound like a death sentence to many but Eryou stresses it can be treated if caught early and it is easily detected by routine screening PAP tests and HPV tests. 

"I was in stage one of the disease. Everybody is different and unchecked it would have continued to grow and spread. I was one of the lucky ones to be diagnosed and treated," she said. "People need to be aware it is a preventable and treatable cancer. It's a silent disease that has very few visible signs and there is a big drop in the survival rate the later it is found. It's important for women to take advantage of the opportunity to have a pap test." 

Even thought she labels herself as a survivor, Eryou still has to be tested every three months to check if the cancer cells have been eradicated. At her next appointment in August, she hopes she will be given a clean bill of health. In the meantime, she continues to share her story to help other women reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer. 

The NCCC Quebec chapter is still very new and Eryou is currently going through the process of registering it as a non-profit organisation, but e-mail ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) and voicemail services, (819) 432-4522 are available to those who want more information. 

© 2009 The Record (Sherbrooke) 

For more information on Karen's efforts with the National Cervical Cancer Coalition - Quebec Chapter, please visit the Facebook page for the NCCC Quebec Chapter.