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Patients

Erlinda Guevara — El Salvador, Central America

Erlinda Guevara is 32 years old, and works in San Salvador’s Central Market. She nursed her mother when she died of cervical cancer, and so she knows of its terrible consequences. When she heard there was a screening and treatment program in the Market Clinic, she came right away. “I tell all of my friends and family that they must get examined”, she said. She was overjoyed to be told that her examination was normal.

Lucy Wanyonyi — Kitale, Kenya

Lucy is a 45-year old mother of 8 and grandmother of 5 in Kenya. She had never had an examination of her cervix, but her mother had died of a cancer of her genital organs, and she knew how terrible it could be. She came to our teaching clinic from a village many kilometers away, arriving the night before and sleeping near the clinic to be sure she could get care. PINCC did find cervical dysplasia, and was able to treat her the same day. She has a 95% chance of being cured! She was very grateful, as she needs to care for her 3 youngest children and 5 grandchildren while their mothers work in the fields. "I am so grateful I will not have to suffer and die as my mother did!", she told us. She promised to return in 6 months so her cervix could be checked by the clinic doctor again.

Interview at the San Jacinto Health Center — San Salvador, El Salvador

Eve Yalom, MD: OB/GYN and PINCC volunteer who is giving the interview

Patient: A young mother and wife that has just received Cryotherapy treatment for precancerous cervical cancer cells. She agrees to do a short interview about her experience with PINCC.

Art Levit, MD: OB/GYN and PINCC Medical Director who is filming the interview.

EVE YALOM: How are you?

PATIENT: Well, now after the visit…things are fine.

EVE YALOM: How did you find out about this program?

PATIENT: I was seen at San Jacinto health center, had a PAP, and when the results came back, thank God, that led me back here today, where I was just seen. (At first, I was going to be referred to a national hospital).

EVE YALOM: How did things go here?

PATIENT: I received a lot of caring attention today. They did an exam. They just did Cryotherapy, thank God I came, they also did a biopsy and they're going to give me the results. I never expected such excellent care.

ART LEVIT: - (to patient's husband) thanks very much for bringing her and thank you (to patient) for allowing us to have this interview.

PATIENT: (to Eve) - Is your group staying longer or leaving?

EVE YALOM: - Yes, we're leaving soon--heading for Peru. We've spent a week here in El Salvador.

PATIENT: - and you're returning next year, right?

EVE YALOM: - Yes, in six months.

PATIENT: - How will people know where you're going to be back, and when?

ART LEVIT - We'll be returning near the end of May. You can check here at the clinic for the exact dates.

PATIENT: - I'm asking because I want to take advantage of the next time you come.

EVE YALOM: - You can come here to San Jacinto anytime. They are participating in a training program, and they were involved in what we have done today.

Click here to watch the interview.