Saving daughters worldwide from a preventable cancer
By Jacqueline Sherris
Special to The Seattle Times
A NEW vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) is going to be available soon to American women. HPV — an extremely common infection that most women acquire at some point in our lifetime — causes cervical cancer. The vaccine is safe and highly effective against two HPV types that are responsible for 70 percent of all cervical cancers worldwide.
As a mother of two daughters, I will be first in line to have them vaccinated. Why wouldn't I? This vaccine prevents a common infection that, over a period of many years, can cause a deadly cancer. Even with the most careful and responsible sexual life, including abstinence before marriage, women cannot fully protect themselves from HPV. Further, vaccination will sharply reduce their need for cervical screening and the discomfort and anxiety associated with diagnosis and treatment of abnormal Pap results
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