Comments on: Cervical Cancer Vaccine for Children http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/ Love, Laughter, and Madness Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:10:39 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Cottontimer http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1891 Cottontimer Sat, 20 May 2006 20:27:38 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1891 <b>river2sea72</b>: Thanks for taking the time to type that out! BTW, your previous comment finally showed up in my spam catcher. So weird. river2sea72: Thanks for taking the time to type that out! BTW, your previous comment finally showed up in my spam catcher. So weird.

]]> By: river2sea72 http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1877 river2sea72 Sat, 20 May 2006 18:28:23 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1877 sorry - i wasn't logged in when i made that last comment ;-) sorry - i wasn’t logged in when i made that last comment ;-)

]]> By: river2sea72 http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1876 river2sea72 Sat, 20 May 2006 18:27:06 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1876 P.S. Check out this letter to the editor in the June 2006 issues of Scientific American: "Thank you for highlighting in "To Banish a Cancer" [SA Perspectives"] the achievements in the fight against human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes all the cervical cancers. I must point out, however, a few facts that your editorial overlooked, because understanding the virus's biology removes the sexual connotation. "HPV can live only in the squamous skin layer, which is about 400 nanometers deep. No other sexuallty transmitted infection (STI) lives in the skin. HPV is rapidly transmited from squamous skin to squamous skin cells but is not transmitted by bodily fluids, as are all other STIs. Most important is that penetrative intercourse, though the most efficient method for transmission, is not necessary for this rapid transfer from skin to skin. fingernails and the skin around them contain the same types of cerviacal cancer-causing HPV as the anogenital skin does, allowing autoinoculation from simple habits such as toilet hygeine or tampon insertion. The virus is ancient and omnipresent in all environments, and 80 percent of women (and probably more men, but this has not been well documented yet) develop at least one HPV infection in their lifetime. "Thus, all references, surveys, and propagation of "educational" materials that assert cervical cancer is transmitted solely through sexual contact are deceiving and do the public a dsiservice. The potential for improved health with the new vaccine in both men and women is tremendous - and it is the biggest health care advance in 50 years for women. Therefore, it is important to emphasize the truth." Diane M. Harper Director, Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Research Group Dartmouth Medical School [apologies for typos - the June issue isn't online yet, so it's just my typing...] P.S. Check out this letter to the editor in the June 2006 issues of Scientific American:

“Thank you for highlighting in “To Banish a Cancer” [SA Perspectives"] the achievements in the fight against human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes all the cervical cancers. I must point out, however, a few facts that your editorial overlooked, because understanding the virus’s biology removes the sexual connotation.

“HPV can live only in the squamous skin layer, which is about 400 nanometers deep. No other sexuallty transmitted infection (STI) lives in the skin. HPV is rapidly transmited from squamous skin to squamous skin cells but is not transmitted by bodily fluids, as are all other STIs. Most important is that penetrative intercourse, though the most efficient method for transmission, is not necessary for this rapid transfer from skin to skin. fingernails and the skin around them contain the same types of cerviacal cancer-causing HPV as the anogenital skin does, allowing autoinoculation from simple habits such as toilet hygeine or tampon insertion. The virus is ancient and omnipresent in all environments, and 80 percent of women (and probably more men, but this has not been well documented yet) develop at least one HPV infection in their lifetime.

“Thus, all references, surveys, and propagation of “educational” materials that assert cervical cancer is transmitted solely through sexual contact are deceiving and do the public a dsiservice. The potential for improved health with the new vaccine in both men and women is tremendous - and it is the biggest health care advance in 50 years for women. Therefore, it is important to emphasize the truth.”

Diane M. Harper
Director, Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Research Group
Dartmouth Medical School

[apologies for typos - the June issue isn't online yet, so it's just my typing...]

]]> By: Cottontimer http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1791 Cottontimer Fri, 19 May 2006 17:12:25 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1791 <b>river2sea72</b>: Hell no. <i>Parents</i> need to be able to decide what's right for their kids. And, of course, when the kids are old enough to join in the discussion, all the better! river2sea72: Hell no. Parents need to be able to decide what’s right for their kids. And, of course, when the kids are old enough to join in the discussion, all the better!

]]> By: river2sea72 http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1781 river2sea72 Fri, 19 May 2006 14:26:11 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1781 Just out of curiosity, is part of the issue you have with this the question of whether the child should be able to decide whether s/he wants the vaccine or not? Just out of curiosity, is part of the issue you have with this the question of whether the child should be able to decide whether s/he wants the vaccine or not?

]]> By: Cottontimer http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1746 Cottontimer Thu, 18 May 2006 23:45:09 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1746 <b>Deb</b>: Well, it comes down to optimal age at which to administer this particular vax. Some are suggesting teen years which seems more reasonable to me. In general, I'm in favor of longer spacing between vaccinations whenever possible. Deb: Well, it comes down to optimal age at which to administer this particular vax. Some are suggesting teen years which seems more reasonable to me. In general, I’m in favor of longer spacing between vaccinations whenever possible.

]]> By: Deb L http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1745 Deb L Thu, 18 May 2006 23:40:55 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1745 I think I was thinking of the stats Planned Parenthood gives, which I looked up out of curiosity, and those include several STDs: "At least 65 million people ? more than one in five Americans ? are believed to be infected with a viral STI other than HIV (NCHSTP, [1999]). These incurable infections, such as genital herpes, human papilloma virus (HPV), and hepatitis B, have consequences ranging from recurrent painful outbreaks to chronic liver disease to cancer(CDC, 2000a)." http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/files/portal/medicalinfo/sti/fact-sexually-transmitted-infections.xml I really don't care about the democracy of requiring the vaccinations, and why is that? I'll tell ya why ;) heh. I'm thinking that if the best age to vaccinate is when people are kids, how are we in good conscious supposed to let kids make that kind of decision? I remember being 9, vaguely, and my long-term world view on romance was "growing up and marrying the Lone Ranger". Hardly the maturity level needed to make life & death decisions. I think I was thinking of the stats Planned Parenthood gives, which I looked up out of curiosity, and those include several STDs:

“At least 65 million people ? more than one in five Americans ? are believed to be infected with a viral STI other than HIV (NCHSTP, [1999]). These incurable infections, such as genital herpes, human papilloma virus (HPV), and hepatitis B, have consequences ranging from recurrent painful outbreaks to chronic liver disease to cancer(CDC, 2000a).”
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/pp2/portal/files/portal/medicalinfo/sti/fact-sexually-transmitted-infections.xml

I really don’t care about the democracy of requiring the vaccinations, and why is that? I’ll tell ya why ;) heh.

I’m thinking that if the best age to vaccinate is when people are kids, how are we in good conscious supposed to let kids make that kind of decision? I remember being 9, vaguely, and my long-term world view on romance was “growing up and marrying the Lone Ranger”. Hardly the maturity level needed to make life & death decisions.

]]> By: Cottontimer http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1739 Cottontimer Thu, 18 May 2006 22:34:43 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1739 <b>amber</b>: I'll assume those stats are for the population as a whole. For sub-groups, however, there will be some at higher risk and some at lower risk of HPV infection. And, as you point out, the majority of cases are asymptomatic. It stands to reason that people should be given the information they need to decide their own level of risk and their own willingness to accept any inherent risk. On the other hand, most people will never bother to get educated on the matter. I'm sure there are cost-benefit calculations available for all of this. Wonder which specific populations are best to target at this stage.... amber: I’ll assume those stats are for the population as a whole. For sub-groups, however, there will be some at higher risk and some at lower risk of HPV infection. And, as you point out, the majority of cases are asymptomatic.

It stands to reason that people should be given the information they need to decide their own level of risk and their own willingness to accept any inherent risk. On the other hand, most people will never bother to get educated on the matter.

I’m sure there are cost-benefit calculations available for all of this. Wonder which specific populations are best to target at this stage….

]]> By: amber http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1735 amber Thu, 18 May 2006 22:27:17 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1735 A sexually active woman has a 40% chance annually of contracting HPV. The majority of these exposure are sub-clinical and spontaneously resolve. A smaller number of the high risk strains advance to low grade lesions, and even smaller progress to high grade lesions and then cancer. A woman (and assuming a man as well) has about a 75% lifetime chance of contracting HPV. The HPV cases are usually picked up in early adulthood and may or may not be detected. Pre-cancerous abnormal pap's usually happen in the late 20's and 30's. Cancer in women due to HPV doesn't usually happen until late 30's or 40's- but you got the HPV 20 years ago and can't do anythign about it now. The HPV vaccine is the first "anti-cancer" vax (if you don't count long term liver damage leading to liver cancer)- and while I competely agree most women should get it- I get a little creeped out by mandatory vaccinations- it just doesn't seem democratic. A sexually active woman has a 40% chance annually of contracting HPV. The majority of these exposure are sub-clinical and spontaneously resolve. A smaller number of the high risk strains advance to low grade lesions, and even smaller progress to high grade lesions and then cancer.
A woman (and assuming a man as well) has about a 75% lifetime chance of contracting HPV.
The HPV cases are usually picked up in early adulthood and may or may not be detected. Pre-cancerous abnormal pap’s usually happen in the late 20’s and 30’s. Cancer in women due to HPV doesn’t usually happen until late 30’s or 40’s- but you got the HPV 20 years ago and can’t do anythign about it now. The HPV vaccine is the first “anti-cancer” vax (if you don’t count long term liver damage leading to liver cancer)- and while I competely agree most women should get it- I get a little creeped out by mandatory vaccinations- it just doesn’t seem democratic.

]]> By: Cottontimer http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1730 Cottontimer Thu, 18 May 2006 22:16:25 +0000 http://www.cottontimer.com/2006/05/18/cervical-cancer-vaccine-for-children/#comment-1730 Hey, Deb. Thanks for joining in the discussion. I guess since thoughts of sex never crossed my mind when I was in high school and younger, I just can't imagine what is going with kids today. Then again, I just posted about that 11-year-old mother last weekend. *sigh* So I guess we're all agreed that we should just vaccinate away? If only life could just be sterile. PS In the facts I listed above, 20 million people are infected with HPV in the U.S. which is closer to 4-5%. ;) Hey, Deb. Thanks for joining in the discussion. I guess since thoughts of sex never crossed my mind when I was in high school and younger, I just can’t imagine what is going with kids today. Then again, I just posted about that 11-year-old mother last weekend. *sigh*

So I guess we’re all agreed that we should just vaccinate away? If only life could just be sterile.

PS In the facts I listed above, 20 million people are infected with HPV in the U.S. which is closer to 4-5%. ;)

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