Mark
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Joined: 23 Jul 2005
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 Posted: 02/25/06 - 07:06 Post subject: Cervical cancer vaccine should be available soon |
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Cervical cancer is a major worry for women nowadays. Even if it isn’t, it certainly should be considering that each year 13,000 new cases of cervical cancer appear only in the USA and the numbers are rising.
Trials on both women and men are being conducted for effectiveness and safety of the first cervical cancer vaccine. If it’s effectiveness were proved, the vaccine would be given to women to prevent them from developing the cancer and to men to prevent them from spreading the HPV virus, which has been shown to contribute to the cancer, to their partners.
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) has been linked to anal cancer as well, which is prevalent in gay men.
The vaccine has been shown to increase the production of antibodies that fight four targeted HPV types. HPV has over 100 strains, among which two are the most suspected of contributing to cervical cancers’ development. The vaccine should enable 70% reduction in cervical cancer incidence if proved to be effective.
The vaccine would be more effective if administered before the onset of sexual activity, which means that the ideal age would be 11. If everything goes as planned, the vaccine should be incorporated as the last of injections on the national immunization schedule. |
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