Cervical cancer vaccine to be switched

Total Health | November 25th, 2011

Further to news last week regarding the Human Papilloma Virus vaccine causing health problems in teenage girls the Department of Health has announced that from September 2012 the vaccine used will be swapped to Gardasil.

The move is not thought to be related to the risks found with the Cervarix vaccine but is instead due to the hope that Gardasil will protect against genital warts, alongside its protection against cervicalRelating either to the cervix (the neck of the womb) or to the cervical vertebrae in the neck (cervical spine). cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body.. There are multiple types of Human Papilloma Virus (HPVAn abbreviation for human papilloma virus, a sexually transmitted virus that can cause genital warts and may also have a role in the development of various cancers.), many of which are responsible for genital warts, and two of which cause more than 70% of cervical cancer. Both vaccines protect against these two types of HPV but Gardasil is found to protect against more types than its cheaper alternative, Cervarix.

Gardasil has been the most popular HPV vaccine worldwide and it has been found that the numbers of people infected with genital warts in Australia dramatically fell with the introduction of the vaccine. The Department of Health is hoping that the vaccine will build on the 400 cervical cancer deaths prevented each year due to the vaccinations.
 

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Expert articles

An Overview of Gynaecological Cancers

By Dr Adeola Olaitan, Consultant GynaecologistContact
University College Hospital London, The Harley Street Clinic

Gynaecological cancers are not common, particularly in the UK. If we add all the gynaecological cancers that occur each year together, they account for less than half of the cases of breast cancer. However, women may be concerned about the possibility of gynaecological cancers because, unlike breast cancer, the gynaecological organs are not easily visible. It is therefore important for women to be aware of the various screeningA way to identify people who may have a certain condition, among a group of people who may or may not seem to programmes for gynaecological cancers that exist and to also be aware of the symptoms so that the disease can be detected early where full cure is usually possible.

What is the real value of screening for Cervical Cancer?

By Dr Adeola Olaitan, Consultant GynaecologistContact
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Many patients emailed us their questions after reading Adeola Olaitan's article on Cervical Cancer. Here are just a few of them together with Adeola's responses.

Treatment of Cervical Cancer

By Dr Adeola Olaitan, Consultant GynaecologistContact
University College Hospital London, The Harley Street Clinic

Cervical cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. should be treated in a specialist unit known as a cancer centre. A team of experts, known as a multidisciplinaryRelating to a group of healthcare professionals with different areas of specialisation. team, will be involved in your care. The doctors who look after this disease are gynaecological oncologists (surgeons) or clinical oncologists (radiotherapyThe treatment of disease using radiation. experts). Other members of the team include a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNScentral nervous system or MacMillan Nurse), and a psychologist who are available to support you and look after your social and psychological needs throughout treatment and beyond. Not all hospitals have this expertise available and you may have to be referred from your local hospital to a cancer centre.

Diagnosing Cervical Cancer

By Dr Adeola Olaitan, Consultant GynaecologistContact
University College Hospital London, The Harley Street Clinic

The cervixAny neck-like structure; most commonly refers to the neck of the uterus. is the lower part of the wombThe uterus.. It is sometimes referred to as the neck of the womb. Cervical cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body., is the second most common cancer in women world-wide, second only to breast cancer and in some developing countries, it is the commonest. An estimated half a million women are diagnosed with cervicalRelating either to the cervix (the neck of the womb) or to the cervical vertebrae in the neck (cervical spine). cancer each year, approximately 80% of whom are in the developing world. About 300 thousand women die of this condition every year.

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