I’d rather be one more…

One more woman educated, rather than vaccinated for no reason.

Over the last 2 years I have been monitoring the progress of the press releases and literature involving cervical cancer, and the advent of the first “cancer vaccine.” While reading one of my favorite website’s daily announcements for current scientific research, www.sciencedaily.com, I came across a study that declared that scientists had narrowed down the genetics of a virus called human papillomavirus (HPV), and were designing a vaccine for it, in order to contain it better after transmission. Low and behold, 6 months after that, a pharmaceutical company announced that it was on track for creating the first cancer vaccine. Not but 3 months after that, we see commercials all over the airwaves telling us to tell our daughters that we want them to “be one less” – meaning, one less case affected by the potential of developing cervical cancer.

While I was impressed with the marvels of scientific progress in locating and deciphering the various strains of HPV, and how they affect the body, I was also equally unimpressed by the “vaccine approach” that is being taken to do something about the infection.

Let me clarify a few things:
1. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease and infection.
2. HPV can be completely avoided and reduction of infection is cheaply, effectively, and easily achieved through condom use and microbicides, decreased exposure to multiple sexual partners, and screening for, and treatment and removal of new infections as soon as possible, so they do not have the opportunity to become cervical cancer (Center for Disease Control 2006 report).
3. Proper education and monitoring of your child’s sexual activity and safe sex practices is the only side-effect free, safe and responsible way in which to “be one less.”

I found it very interesting that on the Gardasil website, www.gardasil.com, there was a lot of great information about what HPV is, but a conscious exclusion of how to prevent it through safe sex and proper education. For example, the following is directly from the site, and is also similar data extracted directly from the Center for Disease Control (CDC):

HPV Types 16 and 18 cause 70% of cervical cancer cases, and HPV Types 6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts cases.

And from their FAQ section:

Q: How do people get HPV? A: HPV affects both women and men.
• Anyone who has any kind of sexual activity involving genital contact with an infected person can get HPV—intercourse isn’t necessary.
• Many people who have HPV may not show any signs or symptoms, so they can pass the virus on without even knowing it.
HPV is easily transmitted. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20 million people in the United States already had HPV in 2005. HPV Types 6, 11, 16, and 18 account for the majority of HPV-related clinical diseases.
3. Q: What is cervical cancer? A: Cervical cancer is cancer of the cervix (the lower part of the uterus that connects to the vagina). Cervical cancer is caused by certain types of HPV. When a female becomes infected with certain types of HPV and the virus doesn’t go away on its own, abnormal cells can develop in the lining of the cervix. If not discovered early and treated, these abnormal cells can become cervical precancers and then cancer.
4. Q: What are genital warts? A: Genital warts are flesh-colored growths that appear in or around the genital area. The types of HPV that cause genital warts are different from the types of that can cause cervical cancer. About 2 out of 3 people who have sexual contact with a person who has genital warts will get them. Even after treatment, there is a chance that the genital warts could come back if HPV is still present. In fact, 25% of cases come back within 3 months.

Now, the next paragraph goes directly into describing the vaccine. There is no information on non-invasive prevention and effective techniques that are simply a reflection of access to knowledge – education and application of safe sex practices and proper screening. There CERTAINLY is no information about mercury preservatives in our vaccines, like information about the following from www.thimersol.com:

Thimerosal, also and formerly known as Thiomersal, is a compound that most often contains approximately 49% mercury (by weight) and is used as an antiseptic and antifungal agent, commonly in for human vaccines, pet vaccines and in other animal vaccines.
Thimerosal was originally developed and marketed under the trade name Merthiolate before 1930 by Eli Lilly and Company. It has been and is still used today as a preservative in human vaccines, pet vaccines and in other animal vaccines, immune globulin preparations, certain skin test antigens, antivenins, ophthalmic and some nasal products, as well as tattoo inks.
Thimerosal was supposed to have been removed from or drastically reduced as a component in all vaccines that are commonly in use for children six (6) years of age and younger, with the exception of ‘inactivated influenza’ vaccines. A preservative-free version of the inactivated influenza vaccine, which still contains trace amounts of Thimerosal, is still marketed for use in infants, children and pregnant women. Some vaccines for children seven (7) years of age and older and vaccines containing the Mercury compounds as Thimerosal are in common availability also for adults.

So, be informed, really look at who is being benefited from new treatment protocols with little-to-no research and data supporting safety, and certainly be aware of the side effects that they already DO know exist – it’ll only get worse with time (ref.: Birth Control Pill blog entry, June 2007). As I said before, I’d rather be one less, too – but one less being a woman getting a pharmaceutically pushed treatment for a very preventable problem. Prevention through awareness and education is definitely my choice.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 11th, 2007 at 6:48 pm and is filed under Women's Health, Pharmaceutical Necessity?, Proactive vs. Reactive Care. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.