Barbara Van's Contact Details

Barbara Van's Company Details

the Yellow Umbrella Organization

, N/A, US • 5 - 9 Employees
Non-Profit

I was a happy 31 year old musician when it happened to me.... a diagnosis of invasive cervical cancer with extensive lymphatic invasion. Hysterectomy, radiation, chemotherapy, internal radiation, and the depression that followed knocked me off my piano bench, and out of my "life" for a couple years. Then I decided to grab the microphone and use my music, my story and the knowledge I had gained about HPV and cervical cancer to make a difference, so others would not have to be in my shoes.One concert - POP SMEAR (2002) proved the power of music as a way to deliver the message - THERE ARE TOOLS TO PREVENT CERVICAL CANCER - USE THEM! That led to the establishment of The Yellow Umbrella Organization and a series of national concert tours called The Yellow Umbrella Tour which has made over 100 stops across the country. Always using creativity and music, the Tour has now morphed into a community based program Paint It Yellow - sending the message into schools, community settings and anywhere people gather ... always with the same message....CERVICAL CANCER IS PREVENTABLE.USE THE TOOLS:THE HPV test + pap - women 30+The pap test - by 21The HPV vaccine - 9-26Mission statement:To decrease both the personal and systemic burden of cervical cancer around the world, by educating and empowering decision-makers, including patients, about prevention, advocacy, and working together.