Someone You Love: The HPV Epidemic

I was tired the night that Someone You Love was scheduled to premiere. I just wanted to go home and relax for the evening. Instead, I drove to the theater in the rain with my husband to meet my friend, Lynn. I decided that, if she could drive 2 1/2 hours to come, I could make the effort. I am so glad I did. This is an intense glimpse into the lives of women diagnosed with cervical cancer. I am a health care provider in Women's Health. This is a preventable disease. If we vaccinate all eligible boys and girls for the human papillomavirus, we will see this disease wiped out in MY lifetime. I am your daughter. I don't want to die from cervical cancer. Spread the word; save a life

Bring tissues to "Someone You Love" because it will be hard to hold back the tears. To be honest, I didn't realize a documentary could engage me on such a deep level from beginning to end. This film takes a medical term such as human papillomavirus and personalizes it, which is vital to educating parents and teens on the importance of getting vaccinated. As a parent of three, my pediatrician began recommending the HPV vaccination as soon as it was available. Fearful of the side effects and unsure it was even necessary, I waited a few years before agreeing to having any of my kids immunized. Eventually I gave in, but it wasn't because I understood the implications of not getting the shots (I'm sure our providers explained it well, but I still hesitated). After seeing "Someone You Love," I'm incredibly relieved my kids are protected. Kudos to the team who produced this film!

I went to the showing of this film at my college as extra credit. Didn't plan on really even watching it honestly...was going to catch up on my class reading. Boy...was I WRONG!!! This film hit so close to home and effected me in ways that shocked me. I couldn't get out of the theater fast enough before I just balled my eyes out. I had a 13-year old niece pass away from cancer (another form) but all the same so that of course added to the feelings. This film is so well put together and very informative. Why anyone...PERIOD...would even dream of not getting the vaccination is beyond my comprehension! When they said if all boys got the vaccination we could all but stop cervical cancer...right there was enough for me to say where do I sign my son up! My son is 23 and I will be talking to him about this and getting it done! The pain (doesn't really even describe it) these 5 women endured was horrendous. My heart broke for all 5 women (I'd like to get my hands on the husbands of Christine and Susie and ring their neck) My strongest feelings went out to Kelly - she went to the "literally ends of the earth" to beat this. To see what she went through and how all she went through but she kept fighting -- it still is effecting me almost a week later. This film is very well put together and gives you great information and real life issues to back it up. I recommend every single middle and high school and college make this a mandatory showing - then the word will get out there to the population that needs to see it. Parents that refuse this vaccination that can save the lives of daughters, sisters, aunts, friends everywhere are the most selfish and uninformed people I could imagine. The simple fact that it can be eliminated is all it takes. Side effects come from everything...but not protecting and causing the death of someone because of an ill-informed decision is ludicrous - GO SEE THIS FILM IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS...if this doesn't change your mind than you have no understanding of life,period!

So many misconceptions surround HPV, cervical cancer screenings, and the HPV vaccine. This documentary does a beautiful job of correcting that misinformation in a moving, compelling way while imparting vital information that could save women's lives.

Each of the five women the film introduces the viewer to are different from one another in substantial ways: they are different ages, they come from different backgrounds, they have different experiences and different visions of their futures. And yet, each of them is also completely relatable. Every one of them could be someone the viewer knows, literally someone the viewer loves already. The film's ability to enter the lives of such approachable women is one of its greatest strengths.

The film addresses so many aspects related to HPV and cervical cancer, including the disproportionate burden on women of color and the ways in which the virus and the disease it causes destroys relationships and lives. The film is not long -- but it will live long in your memory.

There are no words to describe the impact this film had on me. The stories of the women in the film, and the way the movie was put together... just very well done. I was lucky enough to attend a screening of the movie that the director attended. Also in attendance, a woman featured in the documentary. The passion that they both have for such an important cause is inspiring. The people I brought to the screening were from completely different walks of life, but the universal message of the film spoke to them both. As a result of watching this movie, I donated to the cause & continue to tell everyone who will listen about the film and HPV. Highly recommend this and the filmmaker's other new film "Lady Ganga". You can learn more about both at www.hpvepidemic.com