New Cervical Cancer Vaccine

[DVCLiz]

This seems to be so promising - who would get it? Would you advise your teen daughter to have this vaccine? I'm just curious how the idea of pre-marital sex, waiting until marriage vs. having sexual experience in high school/college, etc. will be viewed in light of this vaccine which has the potential to save the lives of so many women.

I'd definitely have my teen daughters vaccinated. I'm not sure at what age, though. But before they left for college, for sure.

 

[Christine]

I'd probably have it done around the age of 16.

Now last night, when I was watching this, the newscaster said that "most cases of HPV are sexually transmitted." So if it is "most" can you get HPV some other way?

 

[mickeyboat]

Yes, I will have my daughters vaccinated. I fell the same way about this as I do about providing them with birth control.

Denae

 

[DVCLiz]

Is it that HPV causes up to 70% of cervical cancer cases, but there are other causes that aren't affected by this vaccine? I think we need to watch the news some more - I'm sure there will be further information coming out in the media.

I think vaccinated at 16 is probably the policy I'll adhere to as well. Unless I think I have a sexually active daughter before then (and I certainly hope I won't!) My older daughter just turned 17 this week, so she'll have it this year before she goes away to college.

 

[Texan Mouseketeer]

I'd probably have it done around the age of 16.

Now last night, when I was watching this, the newscaster said that "most cases of HPV are sexually transmitted." So if it is "most" can you get HPV some other way?

A long time ago, people said yes, there were other ways. Then, it sort of became an argument. My mother got this after being married for 20 years and was highly offended when years later it became implied that it was due to an STD. Different websites say different things. When I was younger, a doctor told me it could be hereditary since my mother had it. No one tells me that now!

 

[WDWMom]

I think I would have my DD vaccinated too. She's 14 now but I think I would wait until she was 16 or had a serious BF

 

[Christine]

Is it that HPV causes up to 70% of cervical cancer cases, but there are other causes that aren't affected by this vaccine? I think we need to watch the news some more - I'm sure there will be further information coming out in the media.

Actually, I have read that HPV causes 99% of cervical cancer. That's incredible really. But I guess I need to do some research on all the ways to catch HPV. I've known a few women to have had cervical cancer most likely due to HPV and they were all very monogamous. Obviously, men can carry it with no signs/symptoms, etc for years. It's not a problem for them.

 

[mickeyboat]

Is it that HPV causes up to 70% of cervical cancer cases

This is what I heard, too. I also heard that the vaccine's effectiveness is only supposed to last two years. So we will probably have to vaccinate our children more than once while they are still at home. I bet college student health services will be pushing the vaccines, too.

I was actually thinking about starting my girls a little earlier than 16. Of course, they are only 5 and 6 now, but it seems like sexual activitiy is starting at earlier ages every time I turn around.

Denae

 

[helenabear]

Actually, I have read that HPV causes 99% of cervical cancer. That's incredible really. But I guess I need to do some research on all the ways to catch HPV. I've known a few women to have had cervical cancer most likely due to HPV and they were all very monogamous. Obviously, men can carry it with no signs/symptoms, etc for years. It's not a problem for them.

I've read that it is closer to about 90% give or take. Definitely more than 70% (honestly never saw that low of a number)

I know my mom died of cervical cancer when she was 48... had been married for over 20 years... I have honestly no idea of her past (before my dad) but she would've had to had HPV for decades if it came from someone before she was married. In short, I don't know exactly what to think.

I think this is a wonderful thing though. If it could help women from getting cervical cancer that would honestly be a blessing!

 

[phisigprincess]

A vaccine AND regular check ups are so very, very, very important. I get sick to my stomach when I hear about people who have cervical cancer that could have been caught if they had gone for their regular check ups. With today's modern medicine and detection techniques, what's stopping you!??!!

 

[Laurajean1014]

What about the vaccine for sexual active 30+. It seems that everyone is thinking "teenagers." Are they the only ones having sex?

 

[mickeyboat]

http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=31&art_id=vn20051007091305432C712206

This is a link to an article which quotes the 70% figure.

It also mentioned vaccinating men and boys, too, to prevent transmission to their partners. Now that's an interesting idea.

Denae

 

[Chris2597]

This is so funny....I logged on to Dis to pose this very ??.
My dh read about his new vaccine in the paper this morning and we discussed the pros and cons of getting it for dd 17 next year when it it approved.
I am going to talk to my gyn about this when I visit with her in a few months. I think every child should be vacinated for this....The paper said as early as 9....I dont see how getting a child vaccinated could possibly encourage them to become sexually active too early....but I for one...feel that if my dd or ds decided to become sexually active I would want them protected.....

 

[LightBurnsBlue]

It's good that a vaccine is coming because I have read stats that anywhere between 50-70 percent of sexually active people have HPV. It is usually symptom less and only certain strains increase a woman's risk of cervical cancer. However, if a women gets her annual papspear, the woman has an almost 100 percent chance of surviving cancer b/c they will catch the abnormal/pre-cancerous/cancerous cells so early. So while the vaccine would be good, it's still very important for all women to get checkups. Probably half of us have hpv and don't even know it.

 

[helenabear]

Not to argue that, but I've gone through about 10 links on Google from cancer sites and planned parenthood with it being about 90% They were all American sites too. Not that a non-American site is incorrect, but at least for in my country that's what I care to look at most.

Of course we also need to remember just because you contract HPV, you don't necessarily get cervical cancer. It isn't what CDC says is a cause, but a risk factor for it.
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/info-cc.htm

 

[Christine]

After googling this for awhile, it does appear that you can only get it from being sexually active. So there are no other avenues for it. Certainly leads to some disturbing thoughts....

But, the worst part was that young girls (ages 14-20) seemed to be at increased risk of getting HPV because their cervical cells are immature and cannot "fend off" the virus like an older woman might be able to.

I also read that you can catch HPV several times throughout your life. In many cases, the body is able to do it's thing and get rid of it like a cold virus. But certain strains are more deadly.

 

[mickeyboat]

http://www.wroctv.com/news/story.asp?id=20274&r=l

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=31666

http://www1.whdh.com/features/articles/healthcast/BOS6763/

http://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/1892627.html

Here are a few US links for you.

Maybe we are not arguing about the same thing. The links are saying that the virus is responsible for 70% of cervical cancer cases, but that the vaccine is close to 100% effective.

Denae

 

[LightBurnsBlue]

I think it's wrong to say that strains of HPV are deadly. HIV is deadly, not HPV. HPV can increase your risk of getting cervical cancer...it's not the actual virus that can "kill" you. You also run the risk of unnecessarily scaring people by saying it's "deadly." Cervical cancer is one of the most sucessfuly treated cancers there is. The 5 year survival rate of cervical cancer, if caught early (this means getting your annual exam) is almost 100 percent.

 

[helenabear]

http://www.wroctv.com/news/story.asp?id=20274&r=l

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=31666

http://www1.whdh.com/features/articles/healthcast/BOS6763/

http://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/1892627.html

Here are a few US links for you.

Maybe we are not arguing about the same thing. The links are saying that the virus is responsible for 70% of cervical cancer cases, but that the vaccine is close to 100% effective.

Denae

I think I see where you are getting 70%... they are ONLY speaking of two of the strains in the couple of the links I read. The ones I've been reading have been including *all* HPV strains. That might be the difference

However, it still isn't accurate to say that it *causes* cancer. It is only a risk factor, and I got that straight from CDC.

 

[mountaineer]

The treatment for this cancer has really come a long way. I had a cousin die the day after she turned 26 from this monster. She had regular exams and it wasn't caught in time. That was 15 years ago. I wish it had been 10 years later when she had it, she would have had better information and treatment options.