protectingteens Nowadays, it seems like everything causes cancer. And unfortunately, there’s no universal cure that stops the disease, so there’s nothing to do but sit and wait to see what happens. The good news for young women, though, is the wide availability of the Gardisil vaccine, which can prevent cervical cancer.

The shot, which has been around for five to seven years, protects against the human papillomavirus (HPV.) It is approved for women in the 9-26 age range, and Dr. Susan Rech, M.D. says her office recommends it for all patients in that group.

“We tell mothers to bring their daughters in, and give women who are in the office for check-ups information to take home,” Rech says.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease, with over 40 types that can infect males and females, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC.)

“In 2005, the CBC estimated that at least 50% of sexually active people catch HPV during their lifetime,” says Judy Murphy- Gorman, ANP.

Some strains of the virus cause warts, which women wouldn’t notice because they don’t necessarily see the virus infection on their cervix and because it doesn’t cause abnormalities, Rech says. Other strains are more serious.

“Much of it is transient and goes away, however, some persists and causes cervical cancer,” Murphy-Gorman says.

“It’s a very slow going process, but once the virus is infecting cells in the cervix, then over time you develop pre-cancer cells and cancer, so we’re giving the vaccine to prevent that,” Rech says. Murphy-Gorman finds Gardisil to be very important to protect children, especially because it is the first vaccine to help prevent cancer.

“Gardisil protects against four viruses, numbers 6 and 11, which cause genital warts. These are not cancerous but required multiple treatments to eliminate them. It also protects against numbers16 and 18, which cause approximately 70% of cervical cancers.

Numbers 31, 33, and 35 also can cause cervical cancer, but to a lesser degree,” Murphy-Gorman says.

The vaccine comes as a shot in the arm, Rech says. There are three shots spaced out over six months. And despite Michelle Bachman’s claims that Gardisil causes mental retardation in girls, Murphy-Gorman says it’s very safe.

“There may be controversy over any vaccine,” Murphy-Gorman says. “I have never seen any adverse reactions to the vaccine except for some slight swelling at the site and redness as with most other vaccines. Difficulty breathing or bronchospasm has been reported very rarely. Some people may develop a low-grade fever, which is a common side effect of any vaccine.”

Medical Secretary Melissa Avanzato said her daughter, who was 17 when she first started getting the Gardisil injection, complained of pain at the site, but was otherwise fine.

Rech says because doctors recommend Gardisil for young women, most insurance companies cover the cost. While it doesn’t cover 100 percent of the strains that could cause abnormal pap smears, Rech says, it covers at least 75 percent of the strains that cause abnormal cells.

Avanzato chose to get the vaccine for her daughter as a preventative measure.

“I wanted her protected against a disease that’s out there, and to secure her from future problems that may occur with the injection, and against cervical cancer,” Avanzato says.

Though the vaccine is available to young men as well, studies are still ongoing as to how essential it is.

“I have two sons. Would I have them vaccinated? I think patients are still trying to figure it out. There aren’t abnormalities that develop in boys or men, so we would be doing it for prevention of them spreading it to someone else,” Rech says.

Rech adds that patients don’t always realize if they or their partner has the vaccine and are unknowingly transmitting it. She stresses the necessity of regular Pap smears.

“If you’ve had an abnormal Pap smear already, even if you’re in your 20s, you can still get the Gardisil vaccine, because we’re protecting you from other strains of the virus,” Rech says.


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