The Vaccine against Cervical Cancer

MANILA, Philippines - The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is considered as a remarkable breakthrough as a preventive measure for cervical cancer. Hence, it is touted as a significant medical discovery in terms of its impact to women's health. Why so?

The HPV vaccine protects against infection with four HPV types - the HPV 16, 18, 31, 33. HPV 16 and 18 are high-risk types and are associated with 70 percent of cervical cancers. These HPV types cause most of the HPV associated with cancer cases.

HPV is transmitted through sexual intercourse. It is the same virus that causes genital warts. The Cancer Registry of the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.?Eduardo J. Aboitiz Cancer Center (RAFI-EJACC) for Metro Cebu records cervical cancer as among the top five most common types of cancer in women, with those 35 to 64 years of age being the ones most likely to be diagnosed with the disease.

The HPV vaccine is relatively new in the market. Many Filipino women are not eager to be vaccinated. The common reasons are lack of information about the vaccine, undetermined long-term health effects, and the cost of vaccination.

HPV vaccination costs around P6,000, consisting of  three doses spread in six months (months 0, 2, and 6). The price is quite a sum for an average Filipino woman. The usual argument is that the money could instead be put to better use - on immediate needs, like the children's education or the family emergency fund.

Recently, a number of publications have also expressed doubts whether or not people have been too quick in adopting the HPV vaccine, and if the supposed benefits have been exaggerated or not. Indeed, there is cause to wonder if the HPV vaccine really warrants every woman's complete reliance and monetary investment.

The general-interest magazine Psychology Today, in its website www.pyschologytoday.com, has reviewed the HPV vaccine, differentiating between what has been claimed about it and what the reality is:

 What we are told: The HPV vaccine protects against cervical cancer.

 What the evidence says: There is no direct evidence that the HPV vaccine prevents cervical cancer. What studies have shown is that vaccination prevents infection with four HPV types. Part of the problem is that it takes 10 to 20 years from infection for a woman to develop cervical cancer. To prove that the vaccine prevents cancer, a study that follows thousands of women for at least such number of years would be required.

What we are told: The HPV vaccine is safe.

What the evidence says: From the available evidence, we know that the HPV vaccine carries risks similar to other vaccines. However, the term "safe" is relative. A report in The Journal of the American Medical Association on the safety of the HPV vaccine stated that fainting and pain at the site of injection are the most common side effects from vaccination.

The popular success of HPV vaccine is not the end of the long journey to fight against cervical cancer. It is just the beginning - to answer the uncertainties and reservations of some women on the vaccine's benefits and possible risks. Their questions include, "Does the vaccine prevent me from acquiring cervical cancer?" or "How long will be my immunity if vaccinated?" or "What negative side effects are there from vaccination?"

Despite claims of benefits, every woman must seek to fully understand what the HPV vaccine can and cannot do for her. The bottom line, for now, is that the vaccine does not provide 100-percent protection against cervical cancer. Getting the HPV vaccine is a personal choice.

So far, the best that women can do to avoid HPV infections is to have a healthy lifestyle and to adopt preventive measures, such as Pap smear and HPV testing. (FREEMAN)