Cervical Cancer Vaccine Lowers Risk
Cervical cancer is becoming more prevalent amongst the under 30s in the UK and as a result, there is a changing trend in cervical cancer recommendations.
We’ve long known that pap smears have been an effective tool in reducing cervical cancer, however even after more than quarter of a century of screening, the statistics are gloomy:
U.S.: 2007 – 4,021 deaths
U.K.: 2008 – 957 deaths
Nowadays, around 20% cervical cancer is the rarer adenocarcinoma, more common in younger women. It is aggressive, and unfortunately, not picked up on pap smears. The good news is that a series of three vaccines against the HPV wart virus, given over six months, will prevent most cervical cancer.
Cervical Cancer Vaccine Statistics
An international study of 18,600 women between 15-25 showed that:
The new vaccines are 95% effective at preventing precancerous cervical lesions (SIL/CIN1-2) and 93% against cancer.
Reduced by 70% the number of women needing cone biopsies/leep procedures because of abnormal smears.
Even if women had some of the HPV virus, after vaccination their immunity was stronger, with resistance to more types of virus.
The vaccine is safe, is approved by the WHO Global Committee on Vaccine Safety, and can be given any time from 10-45 years of age. We recommend taking the vaccine sooner rather than later, but it is still worthwhile in an older woman.
Cervical Cancer – Get Vaccinated!
The nurses at the practice are able to give this vaccine, or you can combine it with your yearly check up. Use the quieter summer months for a bit of self care.
Dr Jamieson has long been an advocate for preventative health, and in particular for women. In the 1980s Dr Jamieson was the first private doctor in Hong Kong to set up a well woman clinic and later, in 1998, she was a pioneer in Hong Kong for the use of bio-identical hormones for the relief of menopausal symptoms for women. This was at a time when most doctors were still prescribing synthetics. Getting the cervical cancer vaccine is a great preventative step.