January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month!

Schlemm

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month! Cancer of the cervix, the opening between the womb and the vagina, is the 2nd most common type of cancer in women. One of the most common causes of cervical cancer is HPV - human pappiloma virus. There are many strains of HPV; some cause warts on your hands and feet, for example. Other strains are sexually transmitted and some of these strains cause genital warts. Other sexually transmitted strains, however, cause no obvious symptoms, and it is persistent infection with these strains which can cause cells in the cervix to become cancerous. In the USA, HPV is the most common STI.

The changes in the cervix which lead to cancer can take years to develop. One of the most effective ways of detecting early changes is by means of a Pap test (also called a Smear test). A swab of cells is taken from the cervix and is analysed for abnormalities. Because of this test, cervical cancer can be detected early. If detected early, it is very treatable. If undetected, a tumour can grow very large (and often the patient will not show symptoms, such as abnormal vaginal bleeding, for some time) and treatment is more difficult. Many women do not go for Pap Smears because they find it embarrasing, but it is a small price to pay for the good of your health!

Every year in Ireland, about 70 women die from cancer of the cervix. There seems to be widespread lack of awareness about HPV and cervical cancer - many have not made the connection yet. Regular Pap Smears are a must and
there is even a vaccine available to combat the most notorious strains of sexually transmitted HPV. Condoms do not always provide protection between HPV, so it is important to protect yourself in other ways in addition to using a condom.

Finally, I read this story a few months ago, and it was a real eye opener about cervical cancer and HPV. Hopefully it will inspire more people to get regular Pap Smears and consider the HPV vaccine.

http://www.janemag.com/magazine/articles/2006/03/20/HPV

r3nu4l

To add to this, HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 are the most high risk strains of HPV to cause cervical cancer.

Studies have shown that vaccination of young girls (11+) with either the Merck vaccine Gardasil (anti HPV 6,11,16,18) or the GlaxoSmithKline vaccine Cervarix (anti-HPV 16,18) is effective in reducing the incidence of cervical cancer. The reason that girls as young as 11 are receiving the vaccine even though they are not having sex is because studies have shown the vaccines to be more effective in 11-14 year olds compared with 15-24 year olds.

Recently (This week) it was revealed that a large proportion of British women are failing to have cervical Pap (smear) tests performed and these women are definitely putting their health at risk. As with many cancers early detection is critical.

Jimoslimos

r3nu4l wrote:

Studies have shown that vaccination of young girls (11+) with either the Merck vaccine Gardasil (anti HPV 6,11,16,18) or the GlaxoSmithKline vaccine Cervarix (anti-HPV 16,18) is effective in reducing the incidence of cervical cancer.

I thought these vaccines were still undergoing clinical trials (very successful AFAIK) . Have these completed Phase III/IV already?

r3nu4l

Clicky here.

The vaccine is EU approved and on sale for private healthcare in the UK. Whether it will be available on the NHS is a matter for NICE.

Not all medicines need to have completed all Phase III trials to go on sale. They only need to have shown safety and efficacy in Phase III trials for the respective indication in which they will be used.

Indeed there are still lots of ongoing Phase III trials by Merck and GSK for these vaccines. Also most Phase IV trials tend to be Post-marketing trials.