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Austin, TX – Cancer. It’s a
diagnosis most of us fear. For decades, scientists have
sought cures for the many forms the disease can take. But
preventing cancer through a vaccine seemed the stuff of
science fiction. Now, for cervical cancer that fiction is a
reality. |
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The Vaccine
In June 2006, the Food and Drug Administration approved Gardasil,
the first cancer vaccine ever. The vaccine targets four strains
of human papillomavirus (HPV). Those strains are called HPV-6,
HPV-11, HPV-16, and HPV-18. “This virus affects over 20 million
people in the U.S. alone,” says
Carla Ortique, M.D., an OB/Gyn with The Austin
Diagnostic Clinic. “Over 80 percent of women will contract this
virus by the time they’re 50, so this vaccine is a tremendous
breakthrough for women’s healthcare.”
HPV-16 and HPV-18 account for
about 70 percent of all cervical cancers. HPV-6 and HPV-11
account for about 90 percent of genital warts. The vaccine is
also approved to help prevent vaginal and vulvar cancers, which
can also be caused by HPV.
Are You Eligible?
Gardasil has been approved for girls and women aged nine to 26
and will last for up to four years. To be most effective,
Gardasil must be given in three doses over a six month time
period. The second dose is given two months after the first, and
the third dose given four months later. It has proven to be 100
percent effective, but it is not intended for men or anyone who
has already come into contact with HPV. For girls who are not of
the recommended screening age and not sexually active, it is
recommended they receive the vaccine between the ages of 11 and
13.
It is also extremely safe. “The reason is that the vaccine is
not a live virus, but a virus-like particle,” explains Dr.
Ortique. “So the particles on the outside of the vaccine are
immunity-stimulating while the inside is empty, containing no
traces of the actual virus.”
Paps are Still Important
Nearly one in five women has not visited the doctor for a Pap
test in the past three years. This is a startling statistic
considering that cervical cancer will claim the lives of over
230,000 women worldwide this year. And while the vaccine will
guard against the most aggressive types, there are over 100
strains of HPV that have been identified, so the need to engage
in regular Pap screenings is still very important.
“Some women who have received the vaccine will still have
abnormal Pap tests,” explains Dr. Ortique. “This doesn’t mean
it’s not working, but a lot of these abnormal results are a
result of HPVs that are not included and are other causes of
cervical cancer.”
Females who are sexually active and all women 21 years of age
and older should undergo an annual exam, unless recommended
otherwise by a doctor.
You and the Future of Your Health
While the vaccine is not a cure-all for cervical cancer, it does
offer a significant hope for the future. “This is the first step
in removing the threat of cervical cancer death in women,” says
Dr. Ortique. “But while this vaccine will be effective for many,
it will only work if it is used, so women need to be proactive
when it comes to their health and visit their doctors
regularly.”
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The Austin Diagnostic Clinic (ADC) is a multi-specialty clinic
with physicians representing 24 medical specialties at six
locations. Dr. Ortique practices at the ADC Main Clinic at 12221
N. MoPac.
To schedule an appointment, call 901-4013. |
