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Infections and Health

Sexually transmitted diseases,

Gardasil A Vaccine To Prevent Cervical Cancer

By Dr. W. Gifford Jones

April 15, 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. But for months beforehand 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 new vaccine, "Gardasil", will prevent needless deaths such as hers.

Cervical cancer strikes half a million women worldwide each year and 250,000 die from this disease. The cause of this cancer evaded researchers for years. However, recent studies show that the majority of cervical tumours are due to infection with Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

There are 100 different varieties of HPV. 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.

Human Papillomaviruses are not created equal. Low risk types do not cause symptoms. Higher risk ones trigger either flat and nearly invisible growths to outright genital warts. And the most potent viruses 6, 11, 16, and 18 are linked to cervical cancer.

Until now the time-honoured way to prevent cervical cancer was the annual Pap smear. If this detects abnormal cells, early treatment can prevent these changes from progressing.

But Pap smears are not perfect and many women fail to have this test done. That's why they're still dying every year from this malignancy. And the only way to end these needless deaths is to prevent the infection of HP from ever happening.

Gardasil is a vaccine to protect against diseases caused by high risk Human Papillomavirus Types 6, 11, 16, and 18. Studies show it's effective in preventing approximately 70 percent of cancers of the cervix and vaginal area. And it could have saved my young patient from a tragic premature death.

For women with genital warts Gardasil is 90 percent effective. These warts, known as condylona accuminata, are non-malignant, occurring either singularly or scattered in clusters. No one likes to see warts on the body, but it's particularly worrying for women when these unsightly growths appear on the external genital area and then invade the vagina. And at times it means multiple treatments to get rid of them.

Patients invariably ask me, "But how could I have picked up these warts?" The simple, direct answer is that those who participate in any kind of sexual activity involving genital contact are at risk. You do not normally get this disease by simply sitting on a toilet seat. So the ideal time to be vaccinated with Gardasil is before the female becomes sexually involved, not after.

Gardasil is recommended for girls and women 9 through 26 years of age. The vaccine's first injection is given only after patients have discussed this means of protection with their doctor. Two months later the second shot is administered and the third dose six months after the first injection. Patients must be sure they receive all three doses. But if for some reason a dose is missed the doctor will decide when to give the next one.

You can still benefit from Gardasil if you already have HPV. This is because most women are not infected with all four types of HPV contained in the vaccine. The injection will therefore provide protection from those types that are not present, but if picked up can cause cervical cancer and genital warts

Gardasil is generally well tolerated. The most common side effects are pain, swelling, itching and redness at the injection site.

My advice? Ask your doctor about Gardasil. Remember, the prevention of sexually transmitted disease and cancer is much easier than trying to cure them.


W. Gifford-Jones M.D is the pen name of Dr. Ken Walker graduate of Harvard. Dr. Walker's website is: Docgiff.com

My book, �90 + How I Got There� can be obtained by sending $19.95 to:

Giff Holdings, 525 Balliol St, Unit # 6,Toronto, Ontario, M4S 1E1

Pre-2008 articles by Gifford Jones
Canada Free Press, CFP Editor Judi McLeod