Vaccine for Cervical Cancer

Good news for us women, there is already a vaccine against cervical cancer, the first ever vaccine discovered against cancer. Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal cells on the cervix grow out of control, produce too much tissue that forms a tumor. It is caused by the virus human pappilomavirus (HPV) and can be acquired by having sex with a person who has it.

Cervical cancer is a disease not of the old but of women at their peak age, biologically and economically. According to statistics, 80 percent of victims are in developing and of these number 50% are in Asia.

In the Philippines, it is second to breast cancer as the most common malignancy that kills women. However, it is said to be deadlier in terms of virulence and has fewer survivors.

The vaccine for cervical cancer blocks the two cancer-causing types of HPV – types 16 and 18. It also blocks HPV types 6 and 11 that are not associated with cervical cancer but causes genital warts.

The vaccine is recommended for girls aged 11 to 12 but can also be given to girls as young as nine (9) years old. In these ages, most girls have not yet engaged in any sexual activity. The vaccine allows the girls immune system to be activated before she’s likely to encounter HPV. It is given in a series of three injections over a six-month period.

Ask your doctor or health care provider about the vaccine the next time you visit.