Garadsil – A Vaccine To Prevent Cervical Cancer
21 Jul 2006
Some patients you never forget. Years ago, a young talented pianist after years of dedicated study, was scheduled to give her first piano recital in Toronto. For months she noticed vaginal discharge and did nothing. Finally, due to abnormal bleeding she consulted me. Pelvic examination revealed an extensive cancer of the cervix. She died a few months later and never gave her recital. Now, a vaccine "Gardasil" will prevent these needless deaths.
Worldwide cervical cancer strikes half a million women each year and 250,000 die from this disease. What causes these cancers was unknown for many years. Now, we know that the majority are due to infection with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
The Human Papillomavirus is an extremely common virus and there are 100 different varieties. In 2005 the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 20 million people in the United States were infected with these viruses. And that at least 50 percent of sexually active people catch HPV during their lifetime.
The figures are shocking. For instance it’s estimated that of one million women infected with HPV 100,000 will develop precancerous changes in the cervix, 8,000 will progress to a malignancy involving the surface of the cervix and 1,600 will have invasive cancer.
We know that not all 100 Human Papillomaviruses (HPVs) are created equal. Low risk ones are without symptoms. Higher risk HPV viruses cause either flat and nearly invisible growths to outright genital warts. And HPV viruses # 6 and 11 are associated with cervical cancer.
Until now the time-honoured way to prevent cervical cancer has been annual Pap smears. If this detects abnormal cells early treatment can stop these changes from progressing.
But Pap smears are not perfect and many women still do not have this test done. This is why women are still dying every year from cervical cancer. And the only way to stop these needless deaths is to prevent them from ever happening. Prevention has always been better than cure.
Gardasil is a vaccine to protect against diseases caused by high risk Human Papillomavirus Types 6, 11, 16, and 18. This vaccine could have saved my patient from a premature death from cervical cancer. But it can also stop the development of early malignant changes in the cervix and vaginal area. And put an end to the annoyance of genital warts.
Gardasil works best when given before you or your child has contact with these high risk viruses
vagina and vulva.ps protect against diseases caused by Human Papillomavirus Types 6, 11, 16 and 18.
And that males or females at any age are at risk who participate in any kind of sexual activity that involves genital contact.
Cervical cancer should be a totally preventable disease, but ever year women still succumb to this malignancy. They have failed to get annual Pap smears.
