True, but it is an extremely common virus that also happens to be an STD. My family and my wife’s family both already have a very high incidence of various cancers other than cervical. This at least lets us knock ONE of the possible cancers out of the running. I believe that I mentioned in one of my other posts on this thread that we depend on the heart attacks to save us from cancer in my family? Not to mention that one of my daughters is a teen, and the other is a pre-teen, so I’m not prepared to make any bets on how they will behave, despite our family discussions of the risks and liabilities. Nor that whoever they eventually choose as husbands or whatever will have been any more careful than they have been...
The cause of cervical cancer is not definitive even though the medical community has a fair assessment at this time.
Risk factors include: cigarette smoking, sexual activity (young women who smoke, and have sex, have twice the risk). Cervical dysplasia may occur because of a sexually transmitted infection. Herpes simplex virus type II, a common STD, is also a possible cause of cervical dysplasia. A link between a specific STD and cervical cancer is not certain. HIV and cervical cancer has such a strong link that women with the virus are now advised to get a Pap test every 4 to 6 months. There are also strong concerns that auto-immune issues may also play a part.
HPV is known to include 70+ types of sexually transmitted virus. Some of these HPV may cause cervical cells to become cancerous. Many women are diagnosed with HPV, but never develop dysplasia or cervical cancer. HPV can be found in most women, and the percentage may well be the key.
Cervical cancer risks increase with age. Older women will refuse having pap tests, and with physician’s approval; which is wrong, as older women will have more advanced cervical cancer. (One has to wonder if this has a correlation to prostate cancers and age.) Perhaps the gap between medical coverage and medicare is to blame for this phenomenon
On the topic of the new HPV vaccine, the FDA has seen fit to refuse to publish adverse effects of the vaccine. Most are minor; but, heart problems, blood clots, neurological events, seizures, and a small percentage of deaths statistics are available.
The new vaccine is exactly that, new. With all new pharma products put on the market, one must weigh the risks against the outcomes. This particular vaccine came on the market with much advertising and political flag waving. It has become a major money maker. Pap tests have been a proven and effective test for cervical cancer. The pap test is not expensive. Treatment for cervical cancer is certainly easier and more effective than treatment for prostate cancer for instance. Young teens and pre-teens should not be in the que for this vaccine if sexual activity is not currently an issue. Holding off, and allowing those with high risk behavior to be immunized, seems logical until new statistics or behaviors are evident