Shot to Prevent Cervical Cancer

[dollydew]

My mother died of cervical cancer. 'Nuff said.

[demigoddess]

1. if only we could trust the medical profession

DES, thalidomide, HRT and many of their other treatments have proven more hurtful than helpful.

[Crunchy Frog]

3. vaccines that induce your body to produce antibodies

against particular viruses are pretty longstanding and have a reasonably good track record. Those other treatments listed are in another class entirely.

I would have no hesitation in giving a kid of mine, of either sex, this particular vaccine.

[demigoddess]

6. my son, who is more of a scientist than i am, says that vaccines for

bacteria work very good but vaccines against viruses are more iffy. If it were that easy there are tons of diseases that could be cured by vaccines but are not. flu, cold, HIV, etc.

[Crunchy Frog]

7. Some bacteria yes, others not so much. Probably the same with viruses.

First of all, vaccines don't cure illnesses, they just prevent them by ensuring a presence of antibodies to a particular pathogen. They mimic what your own body does when you actually get an illness to which you are subsequently immune, only with a vaccine, you don't have to actually get sick.

The eradication of smallpox, and of polio in the first world are big success stories for viral vaccines. They're also pretty damned effective against rabies, both pre and post exposure.

For the most part, viral vaccines are very reliable. Flu vaccine is, as long as you get the correct strain, which can be challenging considering how many strains are out there, and the fact that they mutate every year. There's no point in creating a cold vaccine since the number of strains would be overwhelming and colds rarely produce a serious illness anyway. HIV is in a class by itself, and has special features which prevent the body from building up an effective immunity to it. The HPV strain in question does not have those feature as far as I know. I don't see any downside to it personally.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

13. The diseases that vaccines work against are PREVENTED rather than

cured.

Smallpox and polio being two of the most prominent examples.

[Toots]

9. I wonder if Cervical Cancer is "hurtful"?

:shrug:

[theoldman]

2. The benefits of most drugs far outweigh the side effects.

Since the thalidomide episode drugs undergo far more testing. Most problems with drugs are an overdose. I always talk to the pharmacist and check the drug out on the internet I would doubt that a vaccine would have much of a side effect.

[Bridget Burke]

4. FDA rules have changed. Thalidomide would be approved quickly, now.

(Actually, Thalidomide is now approved for chemotherapy. But 99.9% of chemo drugs are NOT given to pregnant ladies. Ever.)

However, I'd trust the new vaccine....

[ulysses]

8. right (re: thalidomide)

The reason it causes birth defects is that it blocks new blood vessels from forming - crucial to both fetuses...and tumors.

[matcom]

5. i am TERRIBLY sorry

i will personally DESTROY anyone i meet who tries to keep this from girls/women

[Solly Mack]

10. I'm dealing with this now

So far, so good...and I have another procedure due in August. Last biopsy was both good and bad. Good...no cancer..bad...conditions still exist that cause cancer. I'm not free and clear...yet...but I'm doing OK.

I don't have much use for anyone that would deny girls and women prevention.

[OzarkDem]

11. Good luck to you

Here's hoping everything is ok. Don't be afraid to get a second opinion, preferably at your nearest comprehensive cancer center.

http://www3.cancer.gov/cancercenters/centerslist.html

[Solly Mack]

12. Thank you

I'm very fortunate in medical care and coverage. I've had 3 opinions...all concur.