The first litter that was vaccinated against the HPV virus is now visible in the cancer statistics. The result is very good. Because in 2022 there were 0 cases of cervical cancer among Norwegian 25-year-olds. The same figure for 25-year-olds was 9 in 2020, according to TV2. – It is absolutely fantastic news. I am almost speechless, says Tone Bjørkvold. She is the mother of Ida Bjørkvold, the 28-year-old who got cervical cancer and died in 2021 after five years of illness. Ida shared unfiltered from her everyday life with cancer on the Instagram account @kreftutenfilter. She got very involved in the work to inform about the disease, and for more young women to check themselves with the doctor. – For those of us who have lived in cervical cancer hell for five years, we would not wish anyone to experience the same. That was the reason why Ida started sharing on Instagram. No one else should experience this, says mother. Ida Bjørkvold talked openly about her history with cervical cancer. She died, aged 28. Photo: Ida Bjørkvold Wants to save lives As Ida shared her story, her following grew on social media. One of Ida Øye Bjørkvold’s last wishes before she passed away was that the family should take care of the Instagram account and convey her story. Now, exactly two years later, her Instagram account becomes a book. The cancer compass and the family are behind it. Photo: Frode Meskau / news – To save lives. And that her words should be allowed to live on, says mother Tone Bjørkvold. She hopes that by reaching out to more people with Ida’s story, it can contribute to increased awareness of the type of cancer, so that people can check themselves. – Honoring her memory with a book at the very end means a lot. And then I know that this book can save more lives, she says. One of Ida’s last wishes to her family was that they should take care of her Instagram account. Now it has become a book. Photo: Frode Meskau / news Zero cancer cases In addition to Ida Øye Bjørkvold, Thea Steen and Maren Walvik Johnsen have also been clear voices in the work to raise awareness about cervical cancer. Steen started the “check you” campaign, and Johnsen came forward with his story about a misinterpreted pap smear. Berit Jevnaker, head of the Cancer Association in Inlandet, links all of these to the decline we are now seeing in cervical cancer. – We think it has a connection with the openness of these young, beautiful girls, who have unfortunately died of cervical cancer. Their openness has contributed to more people becoming aware of getting vaccinated against the HPV virus and following the cervix programme, she says. What is HPV? Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a large group of viruses consisting of around 200 different types. About 40 of these become infected through sexual contact and infect mucous membranes. It is estimated that over 70 percent of the population will acquire a genital HPV infection during their sexually active life. Many people will not notice anything, but in some the HPV infection develops into cancer or genital warts. HPV 16 and HPV 18 together cause approx. 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer. HPV 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58 together are responsible for around 20 per cent of cervical cancer cases. If cervical cancer is disregarded, it is estimated that around 200 cases of HPV-related cancer occur annually, of which approx. 100 cases in men. HPV infection is also a cause of genital warts. 90 percent of all genital warts are caused by HPV genotypes 6 and 11. These genotypes do not cause cancer. In Norway, the HPV vaccine that protects against HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18 was used until 2017. The one used today protects against HPV 16 and 18. Source: NHI and Statens Legemiddelverk Jevnaker praises the family for publishing such a book . – Ida wanted greater transparency. She wanted more people to go and check themselves when they suspected that something was changing in the body, she says. Jevnaker believes that just such a book can have a positive effect. – It helps to make even more people aware of how important it is to monitor your own body, says Jevnaker. Berit Jevnaker believes the book can contribute to further awareness of cancer. Photo: Stein S Eide / news Instagram in book form The book, which also shares its name with the Instagram account, is almost a direct copy of Ida’s account, where each page is an Instagram post. – It goes entirely chronologically from her first post to her last. Without a filter, says Bjørkvold. The book has no table of contents, no subject division and no comments. The only thing not written by Ida is a foreword written by her brother Espen Øye Bjørkvold. – The story should be exactly as Ida told it, explains mum. The book is around 300 pages. All income goes to Kreftkompasset and distribution of the book, says Bjørkvold. Until now, Ida’s family has taken care of her Instagram account. But after the book is launched, they will stop updating it.
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– I am almost speechless, says the mother of Ida Øye Bjørkvold – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
