I’ve always loved talking about my periods.
Despite the potential for shyness, embarrassment and red cheeks following my first words, tongues would always start to untie. Women’s tongues, men’s tongues. My openness made an impact and opened up other people.
Our mum always talked about our bodies openly and going to the gynaecologist from when we were 13 was compulsory. It was a way for us to understand, ask questions, learn about and take care of our bodies. It empowered us as young girls and future women. We were proud to know about our cycles, and accurately and specifically name our anatomy. Still today, I cringe when vagina is used to describe « the whole of the gynae system ».
There is nothing mysterious or magical about having a womb, a vagina, a cervix, a vulva and ovaries! And mystification of the female body can lead to serious health issues. Not knowing how to name our body parts, not knowing what exactly hurts, can be harmful.
No, we must not compromise words, mute women and men, mute children and soften edges when talking about gynaecological health. A vulva is a vulva. A vagina is not a vulva. It is not because we cannot see them that we should not name them.
Speaking out saves lives.
This is what I understood in my flesh, when one of my closest friends told me his girlfriend, aged 27, had ovarian cancer. He opened up the dialogue, he made it possible for me to doubt my own health. He allowed me to question myself, my pain, my feeling, my instinct. Thanks to him, I dared thinking I might have cancer. Thanks to his absence of taboo on the subject; I am still alive.
Men AND women are concerned by gynae health, it affects us all, whether directly or indirectly, and men AND women can have a positive impact on breaking down the taboos around gynae health.
I was diagnosed in August 2016 with a stage 1 Dysgerminoma (a type of ovarian cancer). I am today healthy and well and now I am just waiting for the day I will be able to say, « I have been cancer free for 5 years! ».
I trained as a dancer. As dancers, we constantly observe our bodies from within: we feel, we visualise, we strengthen, we tend to « fluidify » and untangle movement. There was something in my lower belly I could not untangle, I could not « fluidify », I could not let go of. Something was wrong and it was my ovary. I knew it. Although many doctors thought at first, I was « young and healthy », until we realised that the « mass » was actually cancer.
Knowing our bodies and knowing the words to talk about our bodies is vital.
And I mean it literally.
Knowledge will save life.
Embarrassment can harm.
Be proud of the body you have, be proud of each part of your body.
Break taboos. Get Lippy.
Find out how you can support The Eve Appeal and Get Lippy and Get Loud about gynaecological cancers this May at getlippy.org.uk.