Powerful documentary Someone You Love: The HPV Epidemic Makes WNY Premiere with Special Screening at ECMC
BUFFALO, NY— Hosted by Erie County Medical Center (ECMC) the evening of April 10, 2019, the documentary film Someone You Love: The HPV Epidemic follows the lives of five women affected by the human papilloma virus (HPV) and cervical cancer. Nearly all cervical cancers are caused by HPV. These women and their families share their intimate stories of coping with HPV and cervical cancer with the hope that people will have a better understanding of HPV and how it can be prevented. A panel discussion following the film screening included: Jennifer Frustino, DDS, PhD, Director of Oral Cancer Screening and Diagnostics, ECMC; Karen Menza, RN, BSN, Immunization Specialist, Erie County Department of Health; and Jason Coleman, Sr. Health Systems Manager, American Cancer Society. Over 100 clinicians and area residents attended this free event.
“I wish the cancer would have killed you!” These are the chilling words of Susie’s husband when he learned that her cancer was caused by HPV, a sexually transmitted virus. For Susie, Tamika and Christine, it’s a story of survivorship that comes with misconceptions, stigma, shame, heartbreak, pain and triumph. For the Forbes’ family, it’s about coping with the loss of their daughter Kristen and trying to prevent it from happening to others like her. And we follow Kelly, who at 31 years began her cancer journey and her epic battle to save her marriage, career, family and ultimately, her life.
Someone You Love, created by filmmakers Frederic Lumiere and Mark Hefti and narrated by Vanessa Williams, shines a light on the HPV, the most common sexually transmitted infection in humans and the cause of several types of cancer in both men and women. In New York, over 2,000 people get cancer caused by HPV— that’s more than five people every day. While HPV is common and widespread, most people are unaware of HPV or don’t understand it well.
The film interviews some of the world’s top experts on HPV and shares staggering statistics. For example, 8 out of 10 people under 50 years of age will have a strain of the virus at some point in their lives and most will not even realize they have it. Cervical cancer is the second leading cancer in women. Worldwide, cervical cancer kills over 250,000 women every year.
For additional information, visit: http://www.ecmc.edu/free-hpv-informational-event/
Following the 4/10/19 Western New York premiere screening of the powerful documentary Someone You Love: The HPV Epidemic, a panel discussion included (left to right): Jason Coleman, Sr. Health Systems Manager, American Cancer Society; Jennifer Frustino, DDS, PhD, Director of Oral Cancer Screening and Diagnostics, ECMC; and Karen Menza, RN, BSN, Immunization Specialist, Erie County Department of Health.
ABOUT ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER (ECMC) CORPORATION: The ECMC Corporation was established as a New York State Public Benefit Corporation and since 2004 has included an advanced academic medical center with 573 inpatient beds, on- and off-campus health centers, more than 30 outpatient specialty care services and Terrace View, a 390-bed long-term care facility. ECMC is Western New York’s only Level 1 Adult Trauma Center, as well as a regional center for burn care, behavioral health services, transplantation, medical oncology and head & neck cancer care, rehabilitation and a major teaching facility for the University at Buffalo. Most ECMC physicians, dentists and pharmacists are dedicated faculty members of the university and/or members of a private practice plan. More Western New York residents are choosing ECMC for exceptional patient care and patient experiences – the difference between healthcare and true care™.
Erie County Medical Center is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.
Erie County Medical Center designates this activity for 1.5 hours of continuing dental education credits. Credits for physicians (1.5 hrs.), pharmacists (1.5 hrs.), and nurses (1.91 hrs.) also provided.