cancer vaccine

**miss_thrifty** · 06-14-2006, 11:03 PM

http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/health/gardasil.html

i was watching this the other nite on t.v. and wondering does it really work. PEI has one of the highest rates of cancer in Canada so far, dang pesticdes are killing us. Alot of breast and cervical cancer.
what do u think?

**missymomof3** · 06-14-2006, 11:08 PM

I may be wrong but I believe that was developed right here in Louisville! From what I understand, HPV causes the majority of cervical cancer cases and the vaccine attacks the HPV virus

**canadian gardener** · 06-15-2006, 12:56 PM

I think it's important. I'm not a vaccinate everyone in sight for everything in sight kinda gal, and I'm all for this one.

Why?

Because you can't tell in advance which kids will need this, and I really think it's one of those things where the risk of not being vaccinated far outweighs the risk of side effects.

it's a terrible and serious disease, and often fatal. Even when people get their pap smears regularly, it isn't always caught in time.

I know several young women of "nice" homes who grew up a bit wild, then settled back down.

Why put a death sentence on them if it isn't needed?

We can't predict which young women are going to climb out the bedroom windows and go partying in their stupid teenage years. We don't know who will get raped. We don't know who will be prone to extreme risk taking because of that awful sense of adolescent invulnerability.

One thing we can control is this.

Why take the chance that your teenage dd won't be raped, won't have a moment of sheer stupidity and risky behaviour, won't succumb to society's pressures for far too early sexualization?

Why not protect her?

This way the stupid, risky kids can grow up to regret their stupid risky behaviour and make a good life later. A long good life.

And kids who get raped won't have to worry about one more thing affecting their lives.

I'm all for it.

**miss_thrifty** · 06-15-2006, 01:22 PM

I agree , I think it's agood thing to have. thers way too much sexual premiscuity, way too young!!! But your right margery what if a girl got raped, and it's just like being condemned to death sentence if she gets std's!! Lots of parenst agree around here, but lots sont see the overall view and still believe that average girl has only has sex later on in life. Yeah right!!!! I know too many girls at 13-15 yrs of age and the plastic bracelet idea where u get certain colors for performing certain deeds and how many guys. like they opwn u!!! I was told that the schools around here doesnt want to belive that this could happen.

**guest32** · 06-15-2006, 03:32 PM

Ummm...excuse me???? I really think labeling someone who carries the HPV virus as a risk taker, wild child, climbing out windows, taking drugs, partying, stupid teenager, is a pretty extreme assessment of the facts.... Matter of fact, I take extreme offense to it. I personally carry the HPV virus, I just found this out a few years ago. I am 47. I was/am not a *party girl* or risk taker...I've never touched drugs in my life (and yes, I grew up in the 70's!) I was/am not premiscuous. I never went to parties....I actually was a pretty sorry excuse for a teenager. And I guarantee you that I was never raped. I did marry two men who were quite older than me....who knows where the hell I got this from???? But I do not think the generalization of one's lifestyle is a very valid (or fair) point in this case. I was told by my Dr. that about 80% of women could have this...it just stays dorment. So....not so quick to judge, okay? Wow...now you all know my dirty little secret! I have two tatoos too...wonder if that's what caused it??

**kaykwilts** · 06-15-2006, 03:42 PM

I have a friend who is very moral; probably a virigin when she married but for a couple of years her husband was unfaithful on her with several loose women and as a result she is now HPV positive. Very unfair that she did everything she was supposed to do and ended up with this.

**MirandaK** · 06-15-2006, 04:26 PM

The material below in purple is what webmd.com says about HPV. I wasn't 100% sure I knew what it was and I thought others reading this thread might have the same questions. Just an FYI...

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes warts, including genital warts, and may cause cancerous changes in the cervix. HPV is spread by direct contact.

There are more than 100 known types of HPV.

Some HPV types cause genital warts. In women, certain types of HPV increase the risk of cervical cancer. Sometimes the only sign that a woman is infected with HPV is an abnormal Pap test result.
Other types of HPV cause common, plantar, filiform or flat warts, and some genital warts. These types of warts are not cancerous.
There is no known cure for HPV. Most warts go away without treatment within 2 years; however medications and treatments are available to help warts disappear more quickly. HPV remains in the body with or without treatment for visible warts, so warts may come back.

Cause

The human papillomavirus (HPV) causes genital warts. More than 100 types of HPV have been identified. Types 6 and 11 cause most visible genital warts.

How the disease is spread (transmission)
HPV is spread by direct contact.

The virus can be spread to or from the genitals, anus, mouth, or throat during sexual activities. However, warts in the mouth or throat are extremely rare. Condoms may reduce the spread of infection, but they do not provide complete protection.
Once the infection occurs, it may spread to other areas of the genitals or to the anal area.
You can spread the virus even if you do not have any symptoms of infection or any visible warts.
A pregnant woman can infect her child during vaginal delivery, although this is very rare. The presence of genital warts does not mean that the mother should have a cesarean delivery, unless a vaginal delivery would cause the warts to bleed excessively.1

**PrairieRose** · 06-16-2006, 09:05 AM

I'm all for the vaccine. I don't see why we shouldn't do it actually. We vaccinate children against lots of other diseases that they may or may not ever come in contact with.

**miss_thrifty** · 06-16-2006, 12:06 PM

I appologize if I offended you or any one else. I'm sorry to hear that you have the virus and I'm deffently not saying that u got it because you were at fault in any way. I'm not saying that everyone is premiscuous. I wasnt no saint in my teenage years, and I took risks, but heck not everyone is avirgin when they get married either. . I'm only stating that i know too many young ladies that are having unprotected sex too early in life and that take too may risks. I know a lady who did not fool around on her hubby and had full blown AIDS because of her hubbys indescretions. It's not fair to her, their kids and her family. She is very angry right now.
But is glad the vaccine is out because it may save someones life. I don't think Margery means offense to anyone, she's not like that. I think she's saying that it's better to have them protected just incase something happens to them.

**AGierald** · 06-16-2006, 12:28 PM

I read that the vaccine cannot be taken if you already have HPV, which i do. But let me clarify one thing... not only have i never had unprotected sex with anyone other than my husband (he's never had sex with anyone but me), the doctor told us that many women are simply BORN with it, and it just happens... they also told us both (and dont laugh, i swear this is what they said) was that my HUSBAND could've gotten it from a toilet seat and given it to me... I could not have gotten it that way, but he couldve. Sounds crazy, I know, but 2 different doctors told us this.

And if you have HPV already, which is difficult to test for because pap smears only take a VERY small representative sample, and can VERY easily miss the bad parts, the vaccine will INCREASE your risk of cervical cancer.

**brainyblonde** · 06-16-2006, 10:52 PM

The cost might make it difficult for girls to get the vaccine, but I think it is one of the most beneficial developments in recent years. If I had daughters, I would definitely want them to be vaccinated.

**MelissaMarie** · 09-04-2006, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by mermaid59

Ummm...excuse me???? I really think labeling someone who carries the HPV virus as a risk taker, wild child, climbing out windows, taking drugs, partying, stupid teenager, is a pretty extreme assessment of the facts.... Matter of fact, I take extreme offense to it. I personally carry the HPV virus, I just found this out a few years ago. I am 47. I was/am not a *party girl* or risk taker...I've never touched drugs in my life (and yes, I grew up in the 70's!) I was/am not premiscuous. I never went to parties....I actually was a pretty sorry excuse for a teenager. And I guarantee you that I was never raped. I did marry two men who were quite older than me....who knows where the hell I got this from???? But I do not think the generalization of one's lifestyle is a very valid (or fair) point in this case. I was told by my Dr. that about 80% of women could have this...it just stays dorment. So....not so quick to judge, okay? Wow...now you all know my dirty little secret! I have two tatoos too...wonder if that's what caused it??

Well, this is an old thread, but I agree with you. I am only 23 and was diagnosed with HPV 16 in Oct 2004 at age 21... At the same time I also had an abnormal pap smear and was diagnosed with CIN 1 and CIN 2 in two different areas of my cervix. Would go back to the doctor numerous times with more abnormal paps after cryo... pretty aggressive form of HPV. I'm not promiscuous, never have been. I've never been raped. I lost my virginity with someone I was engaged to and with for more than a year before anything happened between us...I was 20 at the time. We actually used a condom EVERY SINGLE TIME, and I still got HPV. Sadly, the relationship didn't work out, but I am still left with having to deal with this crap.

I wish I knew more about HPV before I became sexually active, I always knew about genital warts and was even a peer counselor in high school, but they never taught us about the link between cervical cancer and HPV... they never told us that even with the use of a condom you can still get HPV (even though for the most part it does protect you, it's still possible to get it if the virus is present outside the boundaries of the condom). I thought I was being careful in only being with someone in which I was with them for a long time, in a monogamous relationship (they were sexually active, in long-term monogamous relationships prior to our dating), he never showed any kind of symptoms of any kind of virus, etc. I wish there were a vaccine back when I was younger, because I sure as night would have gotten it and wouldn't have had to deal with the pain I've already endured, and at such a young age.

HPV does not care if you are a "moral" person, HPV does not discrimate... I am a good person, I don't party and never have, I've never been intimate with someone unless I was in a long-term relationship... the scary thing is, when the engagement and relationship ended with the person I caught HPV from... I actually went to my gynecologist and had them run "every test possible" for STDs... everything came back OK. A year later, I not only discovered I had HPV 16, but I also learned that it was so aggressive it would come back within 3 months of it being cleared away and cause dysplasia... all the way up to CIN 3. The funny thing is... I think having HPV and having to deal with the stuff I've had to deal with so far because of it has made me a better person. Even so, I believe this vaccine is great, and if I am ever fortunate to have children I would be very willing to have a talk with them and be honest with them and use my life as an example as to why the vaccine is so important... you can be a good person and THINK you are being very careful and still get HPV.

**ktsmama** · 09-05-2006, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by mermaid59

Ummm...excuse me???? I really think labeling someone who carries the HPV virus as a risk taker, wild child, climbing out windows, taking drugs, partying, stupid teenager, is a pretty extreme assessment of the facts.... Matter of fact, I take extreme offense to it. I personally carry the HPV virus, I just found this out a few years ago. I am 47. I was/am not a *party girl* or risk taker...I've never touched drugs in my life (and yes, I grew up in the 70's!) I was/am not premiscuous. I never went to parties....I actually was a pretty sorry excuse for a teenager. And I guarantee you that I was never raped. I did marry two men who were quite older than me....who knows where the hell I got this from???? But I do not think the generalization of one's lifestyle is a very valid (or fair) point in this case. I was told by my Dr. that about 80% of women could have this...it just stays dorment. So....not so quick to judge, okay? Wow...now you all know my dirty little secret! I have two tatoos too...wonder if that's what caused it??

This is me, too and I have HPV!! Had surgery last year to hopefully get all of th bad cells out. So far, so good.