I recently was informed that a dear friend of mine was diagnosed with cervical cancer and is currently pending a full hysterectomy. She later advised me that she was diagnosed with the human papillomavirus (HPV) more then 10 years ago.
There is a lot of information on HPV and the risks of cervical cancer in women on the Internet, in the news and it seems everywhere. There is also a vaccine that has been available to young women to protect against 4 types of HPV viruses although there are more then 30 types.
After hearing about my friend, I was curious as a 33 year old women, if this vaccine is available to already sexually active individuals. I went to the Gardasil website to find such information. The scary thing I read is every minute in the United States there is a new case of HPV diagnosed. WOW!
I wanted to write about this since there is a chance that many of us, already sexually active, can benefit from the vaccine. You must talk to your health care provider to see if Gardasil is right for you. Many of us may already have one of the 30 types of HPV that may never show up as genital warts or the cancerous type and if you happen to be one of the lucky ones that do not have HPV, you can still be protected against the 4 types that cause cervical cancer.
I am curious if there are any women out there that was administered Gardasil? Is there anything you can share about your experience including your age.
For more information about cervical cancer, click here https://www.empowher.com/condition/cervical-cancer.
For more information about HPV, click here http://www.thehpvtest.com/default.html?LanguageCheck=1&WT.mc_id=EmpowHER0110.
For more information about Gardasil, visit their website here http://www.gardasil.com/.
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Add a Comment55 Comments
I sincerely doubt that most of the stories have anything to do with Gardasil, but rather with guilt-ridden moms who are looking to blame their child's illness on something, anything, concrete. For example - in one of these "stories" posted here, the mother told a child exhibiting flu symptoms to take an ASPIRIN, which has been known for years to be very dangerous (Reye or Reye's Syndrome). It is highly likely that that advice killed her daughter, not the vaccine.
I'm wondering how many other "stories" have little things like this bombshell tucked away in them? Lots, I'll bet.
All these "stories" are very similar to the anti-vaxers insisting that vaccines have something to do with autism when it has been shown over and over again (through many studies of millions of children) that this is NOT TRUE!!!
Until there is some kind of confirmation through science that these injuries are (a) occurring, and (b) caused by Gardasil, I'll have to conclude that this is just regular old run-of-the-mill anti-vax hysteria.
I am, truthfully, very sorry for any parent that loses a child. Especially suddenly and for no apparent reason. And I truly sympathise with them wanting to find something to blame ... But science does not back this up. Sorry.
(Also, re: Reports to VAERS. Just because something is "reported", does not mean that the vaccine was actually the cause of the illness, etc. That can only be proved via medical testing or (hopefully not) an autopsy.)
April 19, 2010 - 7:05pmThis Comment
These stories are from mothers of children who were injured by Gardasil. It doesn't matter if you don't believe them, that is your choice. You have no right to judge these mothers. WOW, your argument about science is really convincing. Tell it to all the family members of the victims of Merck's VIOXX. It might make them feel better. I was an eyewitness to what Gardasil did to my daughter. I don't need some scientist to tell me otherwise. Oh by the way, you must have missed the fact that Gardasil's lead researcher Diane Harper says so too! Maybe you need to do some more research or consult with a few more of your scientists.
April 19, 2010 - 7:17pmThis Comment
First of all, the majority of the injuries from VIOXX were from (a) off-label usage (that is: not approved by the FDA for treating the condition it was prescribed for) and (b) not prescribed according to the guidelines or misused by the patient. So much for your Straw Man, there.
Did you mean THIS Dr. Diane Harper: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/578110
So you lied again, there, Ms. Anonymous.
April 20, 2010 - 8:11amThis Comment
What does MedScapes Log In Page have to do with Diane Harper. Sounds like you lied. Good tactic! If you don't know what you are talking about, pretend you do! WOW! You people in Canada sure are smart.
April 20, 2010 - 4:39pmThis Comment
My apologies, I didn't realise that you had to be logged in to read it. Let me quote it for you:
"HPV Vaccine Deemed Safe and Effective, Despite Reports of Adverse Events"
Zosia Chustecka
"Editor's note: This article replaces "HPV Vaccine Adverse Events Worrisome Says Key Investigator," which was posted on July 26, 2008, and was removed after editorial review."
August 8, 2008 — Reports of adverse events after administration of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (Gardasil, Merck) have been making headlines, and questions over the safety of the vaccine have been raised by consumers, parents, healthcare professionals, and others, notes a recent joint statement from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). But having analyzed the available data, the agencies offer reassurance.
...""There is a great deal of hype, lack of understanding, fear-mongering, and totally unrelated agendas surrounding this issue. It is distressing that these reports have absolutely nothing to do with objective science, and objective science is the process through which we should and must make our decisions related to the public welfare," said Maurie Markman, MD, professor of gynecologic medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, in Houston, who acts as an advisor to Medscape Oncology."
""In any large population, there are going to be events such as death and paralysis, and it is understandable from human point of view that when tragedy strikes, people will look around for an explanation as to why it may have happened. But the fact that an event happened after vaccination does not mean that it happened because of the vaccination," Dr. Markman emphasized."
However, Diane Harper, MD, professor of community and family medicine/obstetrics and gynecology at Dartmouth Medical School, in Hanover,New Hampshire, and director of the Gynecologic Cancer Prevention Research Group at the Norris Cotton Cancer Center, is more circumspect. Dr. Harper, who was involved in clinical trials with both HPV vaccines, commented during an interview, "Serious adverse events reported do happen, but in small numbers of women being vaccinated, and some of these events may be so rare that they will never be directly linked to the vaccine."
... "Dr. Harper notes that she has received money from both Merck and GlaxoSmithKline for consultation about and conducting clinical trials on the HPV vaccines. "This is a good vaccine and it is generally safe," she said
(Read that last line there over.)
..."She continued, "Whether or not to get vaccinated with Gardasil is a personal choice by each girl/woman and/or her parents." Each individual must weigh her family health history and whether it may put her at any possible risk for an adverse event that Gardasil might trigger (not even necessarily cause). As examples, Dr. Harper mentioned family history of motor neuron disease or autoimmune diseases, which could affect how the person reacts to the vaccine. She illustrated this point by saying: "Salt does not usually kill anybody, but for a person with congestive heart failure, it could lead to fatal pulmonary edema, so you could say that salt caused their death, as it was the last straw that broke the camel's back." "
There is a lot more in the article, that I have not copy and pasted. If you want to read it in full. registration is free at Medscape and allows access to a TON of good information (as well as giving you contact names if you disagree with what they said, and want to start a letter-writing campaign).
I'm smart enough to read stuff posted on a website generally aimed at medical professionals, and was smart enough to figure out that registration was free (and I have never received spam or a virus from it, either) and necessary.
I try not to tell lies, unlike those who have a vested interest (derive their incomes from) lying to parents about vaccine safety, and endangering children.
April 20, 2010 - 8:17pmThis Comment
Almighty gawd, I am SICK TO DEATH of hysterical anti-vax crusaders who spam websites like this one. They have nothing of merit to share. There stance is not fueled by science or reason, only personal conviction and "they say" stories.
As someone who ended up having cervical dysplasia in my late 20s, I want my son to have this vaccine in order to protect any girls/women he becomes intimate with. Unfortunately, it's not covered by our medical system at this time, and I can't afford the shots. Believe me, if I could, he would already have had them.
Don't listen to idiot anti-vaxers. They are fervent believers that vaccines are inherently evil, and will never say that the vast majority of kids are way better off if they are vaccinated. The diseases that vaccines protect against are deadly!! Protect your kids!!
April 19, 2010 - 6:17pmThis Comment
My response is to Cary Cook - the Rn commenting ... I realize you are a nurse. However, I have studied Gardasil for over a year now and realize that there is TOO many metals in this vaccine to be considered safe by ANYONE having done their homework. This is especially so to those having anemic conditions such as G6PD, sickle-cell, etc. So please do not say that this is a safe vaccine. Read the stats. yourself (VAERS database provided by the FDA) and you will see that this vaccine has many more consequences than other other vaccine. If the FDA and CDC are going to say these vaccines are safe - then this needs to be construed as SAFE for everyone - not just the 90% or so that don't have a problem initially. There are certain genetic predispositions that makes this vaccine NOT SAFE and those are not being spelled out by the media and doctors. This is blatantly wrong! And while there may have been 28 million doses distributed, that does not mean this have all been given. I would like to see the stats reporting side effects on the doses given - even my pediatrician's office claimed there were all sorts of problems with girls. This is HIGHLY UNUSUAL and until the investigators find out why so many problems, this vaccine should be tabled. There is NO reason for more deaths - unless you take into consideration just plain greed.
April 19, 2010 - 11:40amThis Comment
Hi Anonymous
No vaccine or medication is safe for everyone. No herb is safe for everyone. That is why there are guidelines on who does and does not get vaccines or medications or herbal treatments. Because people with contraindications can become ill. It would be wonderful if there was a vaccine or drug that was magically safe for every person, but until we can eliminate every other disease, allergy, syndrome, or other physiological issue, it just isn't going to happen. It is an unreasonable and uneducated expectation.
I read the VAERS, CDC and FDA information and it does not agree with what you are saying. I am sorry you had a problem, but that does not mean the vaccine is inherently bad.
Thank you.
April 20, 2010 - 6:16amThis Comment
there are no guidelines for who can get gardasil. It is marketed to ALL women and men between the ages of 9-26. All. NO serious side effects are ever mentioned.
December 14, 2011 - 1:41amThis Comment
Heartily seconded here.
April 20, 2010 - 8:01amThis Comment