Meramec professors discuss the importance of vaccine:
BRIANA HEANEY NEWS EDITOR
In 2015, Farrah Fawcett lost her life to a cancer caused by the Human Papillomavirus. The particular strand that caused her cancer was HPV-16, a strand that is now covered by the two leading HPV vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix. Even though there are available vaccines, it is estimated that anywhere between to 50 and 80 percent of the population is still vulnerable to the same strain that took her life and many other lives. HPV is the leading cause of cervical, anal, penile, and vaginal cancer as well as being linked to various other cancers. Jody Martin Atkins, a professor of biology and human sexuality, and Debora Chanasue, a professor of nursing, spoke about the risks of HPV and options for prevention. “It’s not something you want to play around with,” said Martin. HPV is a sexually transmitted virus that can lead to warts and cancer in the people who contract it. “It’s so important for people to get that insurance companies have picked it up and began covering it,” says Martin. Even though more and more people are getting the vaccine, less than half of the U.S. population has received it. Nearly all sexually active unvaccinated persons will contract HPV in their lives. Some will get genital warts, some won’t; some will develop cancers, others will not. It’s based on the strain that a person contracts. Sexually active adults can pick up multiple strands of the virus and, if they’re not vaccinated, often times do. “Sometimes people say, ‘Well, I already have genital warts; there is no reason for me to get the vaccine,’” said Martin. “That’s not really how you should be thinking — there are other strains out there, it’s best to get the vaccine anyway.” The vaccines Gardasil and Cervarix protect against 80 percent of cancers and ninety percent of warts. Females were originally the target audience for the vaccine. Now it is encouraged that males and females get the vaccine for two reasons. “If you are having oral sex, you can get throat cancer or an oral cancer,” says Chanasue. Males that are engaging in sex with other males can also be at risk for anal cancer. “All males are at risk of penile cancer which is a horrible form of cancer,” said Martin. Aside from protecting males from the effects of HPV, getting vaccinated also curbs transmission to females who are at a higher risk of HPVassociated cancers. “At least it won’t be transmitted from men to women, so it’s crucial that boys, adolescent boys, get this as well; the more people of both sexes that get vaccinated, the less cancers you are going to see in females for sure “Getting vaccinated before becoming sexually active and using condoms is the best way to prevent HPV.” says Martin “Nine to 14 year olds are the target females and males to get vaccinated because you want start it before you make your sexual debut,” said Chanasue. Condoms are also a viable method of prevention, but will not protect a person one hundred percent of the time. “Condoms are your best bet, but there can be warts on the edges of the vulva and, if you are having oral sex, you have to be careful too because you can get throat and mouth cancer,” said Martin. If a person has been sexually active and has not received the vaccine, it is still recommended that they become vaccinated up to the age of 45. Most insurances will cover the shot up until the age of 26. Planned Parenthood will offer anywhere from 130 to 260 dollars per shot depending on your income and can offer further financial assistance. “Nine to 14 year olds get two doses, and there has to be six months between doses; or you can be vaccinated between 15 and 45. Again, that target age range is 15 to 26, they will receive three doses and each dose will be two months apart,” said Martin. “My message is to just get vaccinated” said Matin. HPV is also deadly. HPV is also largely preventable. “Anyone who has doubts about getting the vaccine should visit a hospice facility and see the women there suffering from cervical cancer,” said Chanasue. “I have seen some patients that are dying from cervical cancer who did not get vaccinated which is a horrible thing to see.”
