HPV, Cervical Cancer and the Vaccine BushCo. won't let us have

[TAPat]

HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) and it's connection to cervical cancer is widely know as some 80% of the population, male and female, are infected. What is not so widely known is that there is, in fact, a cure for HPV - try Googling "hpv cure" and see what you get. Article after article on how there is no cure for HPV.

How could this be?

From the Daily Kos:

The question is which one of us can lead America to appreciate life.
-- George W. Bush, February 15, 2000

Fact: Half of all cervical cancer deaths - approximately 2,300 per year - could be prevented by a newly developed HPV vaccine.


Fact: In the US, for instance, religious groups are gearing up to oppose vaccination, despite a survey showing 80 per cent of parents favour vaccinating their daughters. "Abstinence is the best way to prevent HPV," says Bridget Maher of the Family Research Council, a leading Christian lobby group that has made much of the fact that, because it can spread by skin contact, condoms are not as effective against HPV as they are against other viruses such as HIV.

"Giving the HPV vaccine to young women could be potentially harmful, because they may see it as a licence to engage in premarital sex," Maher claims, though it is arguable how many young women have even heard of the virus.


Fact: The jockeying reflects the growing influence social conservatives, who had long felt overlooked by Washington, have gained on a broad spectrum of policy issues under the Bush administration. In this case, a former member of the conservative group Focus on the Family serves on the federal panel that is playing a pivotal role in deciding how the vaccine is used.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/3/4/142156/4414


Evidently sometime during the summer of 2005 Americans United for the Separation of Church and State reported that a spokesman for the FRC said young women should have to deal with the consequences of HPV (cancer), rather than rely on a new vaccine.

And, reported yesterday on Air America Radio News, the idea from the FRC and BuchCo that the money to develop and distribute the vaccine would be better spent on abstinence education!


Now for my opinion:

As a woman who knows about HPV and its potential to develop into cervical cancer from first hand experience, I can now (although I've known for quite some time) unequivocably say that the Religious Right, Neoconservatives and BushCo hate women - period.

[LynnTheDem]

1. The Taleban got nothin' on the American Talebornagains.

So all American women; no sex whatsoever until you are married. No birth control. Ever. No abortions. Ever. Barefoot and pregnant, old decades before your time. Dead decades before your time.

Welcome back to the Dark Ages. (While most the rest of the world progresses forward to Enlightenment.)

[converted_democrat]

2. You are spot on with that assessment.. Spot on.. n/t

[TAPat]

4. And marriage is no "cure" either -

we know that the "mens" go out and do their thing and bring the virus home - so should these women suffer the consequences of HPV as well? :grr:

[Coexist]

3. this is punishment for not accepting religious morality

plain and simple.

[LisaLynne]

6. Exactly.

If you weren't "sinning" and having sex, then you wouldn't have cancer. If you do "sin", then who cares what happens to you? These people are sick and trying to legislate their neurosis into our laws.

[Coexist]

8. .

http://www.whitehouse.org/initiatives/posters/index.asp

[kikiek]

7. That appears to be the new litmus test.

[kikiek]

5. This is one of the most under reported stories out there. The same will

be done with any vaccine found to prevent HIV infection.

[KyndCulture]

9. I have HPV and cervical cancer as a result.

I've been following this extremely closely.

As I sit and wait for surgery and chemo to begin next month I completely agree with you that they HATE WOMEN.

I want this vaccine for my teenage daughter.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

12. KyndCulture - I'm sorry to hear that!

You aren't alone! :hug:

PM me if you want details of the procedure, and what you can expect.

you're getting chemo? have they already decided that? Usually it's not nec. and they do the operation first, then test again to see if you need chemo. Make sure you ask your Doc about this - Chemo is pretty drastic.

[KyndCulture]

15. It's been a long road.. and yes they think chemo this time.

I don't mind telling this story publically I do it all the time.

I was uninsured for too long. I was diagnosed in 98, had the freezing procedure done.. It reoccured in 2003, I didn't get insurance until I quit my crappy job in December 05 and got medicaid. The problem now is that there is lump on one of my ovaries. That's why they are thinking chemo after the hysterectomy but they won't know until after the surgery if it metastasized.

Thanks for the support!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

19. I'm pulling for you!

I was so lucky, we caught it early enough that I only had to have a partial hysterectomy.

I still have PMS, but let's just say, I haven't had to get the guest room ready for Aunt Millie since. :rofl:

[Pool Hall Ace]

25. That is really sad

Not just the fact that you are struggling with cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine could have prevented it, but this:

"It reoccured in 2003, I didn't get insurance until I quit my crappy job in December 05 and got medicaid."

Hang in there, KyndCulture. I am pulling for you, too! :grouphug:

[FooFootheSnoo]

16. I have HPV too and was "close" to having cervical cancer

I had a level 4 abnormal pap come back. I had to have my cervix frozen and Thank God, everything since has been normal. Close to the scariest moments of my life. I want this vaccine for my daughter too. The fundies should just refuse the vaccine for their daughters and let the rest of us make the choice to vaccinate our own daughters.

But, considering we aren't "saved" we may not know how to make the "right" choices!:sarcasm:

[Kare]

45. if the whole deal with vaccinating is..

that they think the kids will be more promiscuous why tell them what it is for?
Kids get shots all the time and do parents always explain
exactly what the shot is for?
I never have aside from the "It will keep you from getting really sick"
speech, of course my kids are much younger.
But if they vaccinated at 12 (don't kids get a booster for something
around then?) no one would need to tell them that its for a sexually
transmitted thing. Just get it along with other required vaccines
and not tell them, then theres no concern about them thinking
that it is a license to go have sex.

I can't see the big deal they are making out of it.
Even older kids 14-16 would they care what the shot is for?
by then they understand what a vaccine is and just go along
for the ride.. if they think that this is what will happen
just don't tell them.


:shrug:

[TAPat]

14. I was very lucky...

and my cone biopsy came back negative - just 3 days ago.
My thoughts are with you, KyndCulture! Hang in there! :pals:

[KyndCulture]

17. That's WONDERFUL!! glad to hear it!

You hang in there too and make sure you get a pap every six months!!! I was clear of it for a few years before it reoccured with a vengance.

[tblue37]

23. Every woman I know with HPV got it from her cheating husband. (eom)

[Viva_La_Revolution]

10. TAPat - Me too!

I used to be very shy, but now I remind total strangers to make sure they get their pap smears, and when a test comes back funky, GET THEE TO A DOCTOR. Don't ignore it for years like I did. Well, I didn't exactly ignore it, had no health insurance to keep up with the tests.
Now I will make sure to add in a sentence or two about how there is a vaccine, but the fundies are blocking it.

Thank you for sharing this.

[TAPat]

18. I do the same thing...

and for my birthday present from my daughter every year for the rest of my life (she's only 6 right now) will be her pap test!
Hopefully though, we will get the vaccine by the time she is sexually active...
I hope you are well, Viva! :pals:

[Occulus]

11. Why isn't opposition to the HPV vaccine seen as

attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder etc?

Let's base this on the "reasonable person" test:

Would a reasonable person accept the 80% statistic? If so, would a reasonable person expect that a certain number of women would contract HPV from sexual activity? Would that same reasonable person find that some of those women will develop cervical cancer? Finally, would a reasonable person admit that some of these women will die from that disease?

If a reasonable person would do all those things, doesn't this mean those who are supporting a ban on an HPV vaccine are in fact saying they want some women to die?

That's how it sounds to me...

[gollygee]

13. Gotta love that "culture of life"

Pro-life my ass

[SCDem]

20. This weeks New Yorker

talks about this.

I knew but was really shocked about all this opposition to HPV vaccine. I am making copies of the article and have been passing it out to most all of my female friends. I should also pass it out to my male friends but it was a total shocker for me reading this article. Culture of life - and compassionate conservatism is a load of crap.

The argument is the vaccine shouldn't be widely talked about or distrubted or encouraged because it would encourage young girls to be promiscuous. Bad girls deserve to get cancer and DIE! That is what they are saying.

We should then ban nicotine patches, any high cholesterol medicine because people who smoke or eat too much of the bad kind of food and deserve to suffer the consequences. And I can't think of much more right now because my level of rage has boiled over but but this is such a stupid, insulting argument.

[renate]

32. That was an excellent (and scary as hell) article

I knew this administration was pushing out real scientists in favor of ideologues, but to see a great big long article about it, wow.

As was pointed out in the article, the ban on stem cell research is giving other countries a chance to leapfrog over us in the development of new technologies. I guess Big Business can't win 'em all.

[SCDem]

35. The article was scary

And also it made me realize that the people who say that there will never be an AIDS (HIV) vaccine developed because of politics are not wearing tinfoil hats. I have always thought with optimism about the advancement of science and the future of vaccines but in times like these if the science doesn't fit the "morals" of whatver the heck kind of politicians or power brokers have than it won't be created, developed or distributed.

[Brilligator]

21. The Freeper view

I read Free Republic from time to time for amusement/reminder of how nutty they are.

There was a thread on this. The concensus was

1. Everyone knows that cervical cancer is caused by promiscuity. (A bizarre interpretation of a study that showed a slight increased chance of cervical cancer based on number of sexual partners.)
2. Giving kids the vaccine is just another plot by the secular, anti-religious conspiracy to turn our kids into drug addled, sodomizing satin worshippers who can be mind controlled by the oppressive large government state.

[KyndCulture]

22. WTF???

OMG...

1. Everyone knows that cervical cancer is caused by promiscuity. (A bizarre interpretation of a study that showed a slight increased chance of cervical cancer based on number of sexual partners.)


OMG...

My head just exploded.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

26. Well, isn't it obvious? We now have a foolproof 'sinner' test!!

the 80% of us that have it are sinners and damned to hell.

the 20% who don't are God's pure children.

Let's start legislation to get everyone tested. We won't have to wonder anymore which ones are being hypocrites, or flat out lying about their faith! What could be simpler? :eyes:

[Occulus]

27. Exactly the sort of thinking that proves

their god doesn't exist at all, in any form.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

28. or at the very least...

that the Fundie's have completely twisted the message.

I'm still on the fence about the 'there is a God/there isn't a God' theory. However, I've been sure for years that 'their God' is a vindictive horrible being.

[Occulus]

30. I don't think any religion can begin to describe the reality

If the concept of 'god' is truly so far above us as religions claim, then they themselves very very likely have it so incomplete and wrong besides that they really shouldn't be pushing their idea of the nature of the thing at all.

I won't subscribe to one religion because of that realization. They're all wrong, or at the least incomplete, but each believe theirs is "the truth".

I'm not deny the existance of a deity- I'm saying I literally can't pick any one representation. I would be consciously limiting that deity, and logic says I can't do that.

[Kare]

46. hey now!

I want my kids to be anti-religious drug addled sodomizing satan worshippers who are controlled by the governemt.. isn't that the American Dream? :evilgrin:

:sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[noonwitch]

24. But they have no problem with Viagra

This is such screwed up thinking.

A relative of mine has HPV and had to have abnormal cervical cells removed. She is terrified of developing cancer, and has to have paps every 6 months. She got HPV from her husband. If she had been given a vaccine prior to getting married, she never would have developed the condition to begin with.

Bridget Maher must be living in a bubble somewhere.

[nini]

29. It would serve him right if Jenna or Barb come down with this

I love how they throw out the abstinence crap with 2 daughters who are hard core partying hoochies..

:puke:

[KyndCulture]

33. And the statistics for men who are asymptomatic carriers...

are staggering... I bet the hoochies got some booty from one of these such carriers.

[noonwitch]

36. No one deserves to get this disease

W's kids are not responsible for his actions.

[nini]

37. I don't need a lecture.. My point is...

this shit happens to all kinds of people.. the rich snots are not immune. It's like when the Reagan's got all pro research when Alzheimers reared its ugly head in their family. The bushies and their type don't give a shit unless it happens to them.

[donsu]

31. kicking for justice for women

nt

[savemefromdumbya]

34. Many head and neck cancers are caused by HPV

not only 'down there'

[Viva_La_Revolution]

38. really?!!

could you please give a link? as one of the 80% - I need to read up on this. :scared:

[savemefromdumbya]

39. here is Johns Hopkins Hospital

http://www.hopkinshospital.org/health_info/ENT/Reading_Room/hpv.html

http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/news/story.asp?newsId=51

My husband's base of the tongue tumor was positively identified as having HPV in it

[Viva_La_Revolution]

40. OMG

and sticking with my rule of asking every female I speak to... are you up on your examinations??

Fuck Bird Flu... this is a real epidemic!

Thanks!

[Kurovski]

41. K&R.(nt)

[KT2000]

42. Another thing that pisses

me off about this: The assumption is that women get the HPV virus from having promiscuous sex. What exactly is that based in anyway? Is it not possible that the woman has sex with a promiscuous man who passes the virus to her?? Don't men get this virus?
The rw wants to deny this vaccine because the women deserve what they get. Sick

[depakid]

43. New Republic had an article about this last week

http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=w060306&s=groopman031006

<snip>

these groups pointedly oppose the vaccine becoming mandatory. "Because parents have an inherent right to be the primary educator and decision maker regarding their children's health, we would oppose any measures to legally require the vaccination or to coerce parents into authorizing it," said the Family Research Council. Focus on the Family "opposes mandatory HPV vaccinations for entry into public school. The decision of whether to vaccinate a minor against this or other sexually transmitted infections should remain with the child's parent or guardian." And the Christian Medical & Dental Associations believe the vaccination should "absolutely remain a choice, not a requirement."

But social conservatives have it wrong. To effectively combat cervical cancer, the HPV vaccine should be mandatory--or as close to mandatory as such things can be. In practice, this would mean adding the vaccine to the roster of immunizations that states require before students can enroll in school--a list that includes inoculations against other public health threats such as Hepatitis B, which also can be transmitted sexually.

Religious conservatives are posing the debate as a choice between abstinence and safe sex. "We feel people should have the choice of abstinence as a means to avoid HPV," a spokeswoman for Christian Medical & Dental Associations told me. "Our concern is this vaccine will be marketed to a segment of the population that should be getting a message about abstinence," says the Family Research Council. And in theory, that's fine. But, like communism, certain ideas have a hard time succeeding in the real world. Studies show that not only do abstinence programs have little to no effect on rates of sexual activity, they also tend to mislead or withhold information about practicing safe sex. That's why people who pledge abstinence are less likely to have safe sex and avoid STDs when they do find partners. So while, in theory, the choice of abstinence over Merck's vaccine would be fine, in reality, it too often would mean a choice to expose oneself to HPV--and the risk of cervical cancer.

And because HPV is so widespread--absent a vaccine, 80 percent of Americans will contract it at some point in their lives--the stakes in this discussion are high. It's true that most of the hundred or so strains of HPV are innocuous, so the fact that over 20 million Americans have it at any given point is not necessarily cause for alarm. It's also true that the annual number of cervical cancer cases is relatively small--10,400, a third of which are fatal. But each year, 4.7 million American women require one or more follow-up appointments for an abnormal pap result, and at least 3 million of these cases result from having HPV. The cost of these appointments to the individual (and to our already overburdened health care system) quickly adds up. A 2003 Stanford study suggested that the cost of inoculating people against the disease would be far smaller than the current cost to the health care system associated with HPV.

[TAPat]

44. Great link - Thanks! nt

[DeepModem Mom]

47. K&R

[Bozita]

48. more Bushco Bullshit Science

UNFUCKINGBELIEVABLE!

[kurth]

49. Bush has the blood of thousands of American women on his hands

What an evil regime.

[NashVegas]

50. According to FRC's Website, What They Oppose Is *Mandatory*

Innoculations.

If it weren't for their messed-up idealogical reasons, I'd have a little more sympathy for them.