Classical musician, pop artist, Christine Baze returned to Columbia as guest speaker for the SC General Assembly Women's Caucus April 26, 2006.

One year ago at the Jean Laney Harris Luncheon, Baze captured the hearts and souls of those present by telling of her own battle with cervical cancer. A survivor, five years in remission at that time, she has dedicated her life to increasing awareness among women about cervical cancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes it-and the role of new technologies in preventing this deadly disease.

The adorable curly-red haired, blue-eyed, tall lanky classical musician with sparkling blue fingernails and tattoos was at the height of her career as a musician, pianist, singer "Pop" artist when the results of a routine PAP smear came from the lab as "positive."

She did not smoke; she was a vegetarian; there was no family incidence; she had had a PAP every year; she was 31 years old. Yet, Christine Baze had cervical cancer. The necessary surgery was performed. The surgeon left an ovary tacked under a rib for future use, if possible. She said "she could not feel anything, especially her music for what seemed to be an eternity" when she saw the movie Harold and Maude about a middle-aged women, Maude, who led a young man, Harold, through a cemetery carrying a yellow umbrella." This was the inspiration which led her to her Yellow Umbrella Pop Smear campaign to create awareness of the deadly HPV virus.

As Christine Baze played the piano and sang, all present, men and women, were moved to tears in heartfelt sympathy. She was leaving the meeting to enter the hospital for surgery. For five years, the cancer had been in remission when something was found in her lungs.

Baze had the necessary surgery performed. The growth was removed. It was not cancer and she lives to rock the Women's Caucus once again. The cancer has been in remission now for six years. "Tell someone - your mother, your daughter, your sister, your aunt, your girlfriend - what you have heard today, about preventing this from happening to any woman."

"No women should have to go through what I went through," said Chrisine Baze, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2000 at age 31 and underwent a radical hysterectomy and several rounds of radiation and chemotherapy. "By ensuring that all women are educated about cervical cancer and HPV and have access to the best screening technologies, this disease can be prevented."

Baze founded popsmear.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to cervical cancer and HPV awareness and, with her band, The Skills of Ortega, launched the "Yellow-Umbrella Tour," to bring her music and her message to women around the country.