Perhaps you have heard about cervical cancer. If you have not, let me just give you a little information on the subject. Cervical cancer is caused by an infection called HPV. This infection is passed along through sexual intercourse. This cancer is becoming much more common than most people think and all women need to be aware of this issue. Women should make sure they have their annual pap smears, as they help to detect pre-cancerous cells on the cervix. If this is detected, they would then have a colposcopy done, which is to basically take a sample of these cells for further testing.
If you know anyone who may have cervical cancer or even if you yourself have it, here is some useful information about a new vaccine that is helping fight against HPV. This could be agreat thing for women and even young girls.
GARDASIL
Gardasil is a vaccine that targets four strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). Those strains are called HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-16, and HPV-18.
HPV-16 and HPV-18 account for about 70% of all cervical cancers.
HPV-6 and HPV-11 account for about 90% of genital warts.
The vaccine is also approved to help prevent vaginal and vulvar cancers, which can also be caused by HPV.
Studies have shown 100% effectiveness in protecting against infection with HPV-16 and HPV-18 strains in people who had not been previously exposed to the virus.
Tests show that the vaccine lasts at least four years. Long-term results aren't known yet
The FDA approved Gardasil for girls and women aged 9-26. The FDA's decision doesn't automatically make the vaccine part of the CDC's recommended vaccine schedule.
The drug company Merck, which makes Gardasil, is studying the vaccine in women up to age 45 and may seek to broaden the approval group based on those results.
Merck is also continuing to research use of the vaccine in boys and men, as they can also become infected with HPV, which could lead to genital warts.
Reports from clinical trials, to date, show Gardasil to be safe.
Gardasil is the first cervical cancer vaccine to be approved. In fact, it's the first vaccine to protect against a risk factor for a cancer. Another cervical cancer vaccine, called Cervarix, is also in the works. It's expected to be submitted for approval by the end of 2006.
Please pass this information on to any feamles that you know. Cervical cancer is a very serious matter to all women and this subject has not had enough light shed on it. I have personally had two abnormal pap smears and had to have a colposcopy and LEEP procedure done. Afterwards, I met several females who have had abnormal pap smears as well. HPV is much more common than you may think so please, spread the word.
