Author |
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 6:30 pm
Mods..if this is an inappropriate place for this, please feel free to delete. To all mothers of daughters. We all must make the decision for our daughters regarding this vaccination that we think is best. It most definitely is a personal choice. My mother was given the drug, DES, when she was pregnant with me. (1958) It was supposed to be the miracle drug that would prevent miscarriages. Instead it caused cervical cancer or infertility in the female offspring. How ironic that one of the results of the drug was cervical cancer, when we are now talking about a drug that is supposed to prevent it. I lost my ability to have biological children because of a drug that was not completely tested. I do not believe that I could, in good conscience, put my daughter at the same risk and for the same reason. I agree that cervical cancer is horrible, but with regular pap smears it CAN be caught early. What if we found out 10 years down the rode that the drug had horrible long term repercussions like we found out with DES?
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Ladytex
Member
09-27-2001
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 6:42 pm
we do need to think about this. now in TX, it is on the mandatory list for girls going into the 6th grade. Texannie, do you have any information that this vaccine was not tested thoroughly or was pushed through? I'm not challenging you at all, I just want info. My daughter will be out of public schools this May, but I was still considering getting her this series of shots before she went away to college.
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 7:00 pm
what about for a 16 year old? should this be done?
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 7:13 pm
I think it really depends on if the 16 year old is sexually active.
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Grooch
Member
06-16-2006
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 7:27 pm
They had a segment on The Today Show this morning. The scarey thing is that the governor has ties to the Merck corporation. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16975112/
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 7:46 pm
I just found out I have to be tested for this 
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 7:47 pm
It has to be done before a girl is sexually active though doesn't it? That's what I keep hearing about it. We've been keeping an ear out on information about it. Dakota's only 8 though so I have a couple years to make a decision, but there is a history of cervical cancer in our family and that makes me nervous. On the other hand, it makes me nervous how fast this has moved. It hasn't been all that long since this miracle vaccine showed up and now its a mandatory vaccine in Texas and being touted as parents of girls should really have it done to prevent this horrible disease. It's gonna take a whole lot more reading and research on my part before I decide rather to have Dakota get it or not, but if it turns out to have no ill side effects, I'm not against it. I just hope it really does what it's supposed to do safely. Annie, thanks for starting this thread, I have been reading about it and wanted to but I've been feeling like crap the last few days and haven't had the energy for even that much!
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:20 pm
War, from what I understand, this vaccine does not immunize the girl from 'regular' cervical cancer (dysplasia ect) but only from cervical cancer caused by the HPV virus. Since HPV is a STD, the vaccine will only work if it's given to a girl before she has become sexually active. The max age for getting vaccine I think is either 14 or 16..i am not real clear on that. I am also unclear as to why there is a max age if the girl is not sexually active. LT, I am reading different times for the the trials. I have seen 4 years several times. I can't say if 4 years is enough time or not. It might answer the short term questions of whether or not there are any negative side effects. With the drug my mother was given, they weren't aware of side effects until the girls started showing up with cervical cancer in their early twenties, uterine abnormalities and infertility. That is what worries me. I truly had been in favor of this cause I have lived under the threat of cervical cancer from the time I was 15 until I was 44 years old and had a hysterectomy because all the surgeries I had had to correct the damage that the DES had done to me had left so much scar tissue on my internal organs, they weren't working properly and I was in horrible pain all the time. I thought this would be fantastic to reduce that risk for dd, but then it dawned on me..what happens down the road? We don't know? The girls that were tested aren't grown up. They aren't trying to have children of their own. I could be chicken little saying 'the sky is falling', and I will admit this hits probably too close to home to be fully rational, but I think I might sit this vaccine out.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:21 pm
Pamy, tested for cervical cancer? did you have an abnormal pap?
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:25 pm
here's a good article. the age range is broader than i have heard mentioned http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/08/AR2006060800865.html a Q&A from WebMD 1. What is Gardasil? Gardasil is a vaccine that targets four strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). Those strains are called HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-16, and HPV-18. HPV-16 and HPV-18 account for about 70% of all cervical cancers. Cervical cancerCervical cancer is cancercancer of the cervix, which connects the vagina to the uterus. HPV-6 and HPV-11 account for about 90% of genital wartswarts. The vaccine is also approved to help prevent vaginal and vulvar cancers, which can also be caused by HPV. 2. How does HPV spread? HPV is spread through sex. HPV infection is common. About 20 million people in the U.S. are infected with HPV, and by age 50, at least 80% of women will have had an HPV infection, according to the CDC. Most women with HPV infection don't develop cervical cancer. 3. Does Gardasil protect against all cervical cancers? No. Though the vaccine protects against leading causes of cervical cancer, it doesn't ward off other causes of cervical cancer. 4. How effective is Gardasil? Studies have shown 100% effectiveness in protecting against infection with HPV-16 and HPV-18 strains in people who had not been previously exposed to the virus. 5. How long does Gardasil last? Tests show that the vaccine lasts at least four years. Long-term results aren't known yet. 6. Does the vaccine contain a live virus? No. Gardasil contains a virus-like particle, but not the virus itself. 7. Who should get the vaccine? The FDA approved Gardasil for girls and women aged 9-26. The FDA's decision doesn't automatically make the vaccine part of the CDC's recommended vaccine schedule. The drug company Merck, which makes Gardasil, reportedly is studying the vaccine in women up to age 45 and may seek to broaden the approval group based on those results. Merck is also continuing to research use of the vaccine in boys and men, as they can also become infected with HPV, which could lead to genital warts. Merck is a WebMD sponsor. 8. Is Gardasil safe? Reports from clinical trials, to date, show Gardasil to be safe. 9. Will Gardasil protect women from cervical cancer who've already been exposed to HPV? Gardasil is not designed to protect people who've already been exposed to HPV. 10. Will the new vaccine eliminate the need for cervical cancer screening? No. Gardasil doesn't protect against all causes of cervical cancer, so screening (such as the Pap test) will still be needed. Screening is essential to detect cancer and precancerous lesions caused by other HPV types. Screening will also continue to be necessary for women who have not been vaccinated or are already infected with HPV. 11. Are there other cervical cancer vaccines? Gardasil is the first cervical cancer vaccine to be approved. In fact, it's the first vaccine to protect against a risk factor for a cancer. Another cervical cancer vaccine, called Cervarix, is also in the works. It's expected to be submitted for approval by the end of 2006. 12. How many people get cervical cancer and die from the disease? About 9,710 cases of invasive cervical cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2006, predicts the American Cancer Society. About 3,700 U.S. women will die of cervical cancer in 2006, according to the American Cancer Society. Worldwide, cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths for women. According to the FDA there are 470,000 new cases and 233,000 deaths each year.
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:29 pm
good questions annie. with that thinking, i tend to agree with you. holly has had 2 burst ovarian cysts and so was placed on the pill, so she wouldn't ovulate. holly's gynecologist won't even perform a pelvic on her (thank god!) because she isn't sexually active. (again, thank god!)
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:32 pm
I think it should be parents and daughters choice but frankly better sooner than later, assuming it is safe and of course if I had a daughter I'd be asking questions about it
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:33 pm
just to totally flip you out Landi (and a little off subject) I just did a sex ed course with my daughter and doctors are now seeing STD's (like gonhorrea) that were only ever found in the gentials, in the mouth now because so many kids don't think oral sex is sex!
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:34 pm
annie, this is your DIL you know you're talking about here!
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:34 pm
LOL! yes, I do Landi!
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:37 pm
mods, can we please remove these last few posts???? i'm gonna go bash annie upside her head in her thread now!
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:38 pm
9 years old?!!! Really? Is that cuz this is a preemptive strike (as opposed to them actually being sexually active at that time?)
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Chiliwilli
Member
09-04-2006
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:40 pm
Just please remember to investigate before you make your final decision. Remember the birth control patch that everyone thought was so great? Well, now they know it wasn't and they learned it the hard way. What will happen in Texas if the parents refuse to vaccinate their daughters? Are they adding it to the list of vaccines the kids have to have before they can attend school?
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:41 pm
Julie, yes, a pre-emptive strike
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:41 pm
Julie, the vaccine has to be administered before a girl becomes sexually active to build up immunity. I guess since the national average is 14 for is time experience, they are figuring starting as early as 9 would build up immunity. What did I do Landi????
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Pamy
Member
01-02-2002
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:42 pm
yes annie and now I am having a period every 5 days...not a good sign
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:43 pm
I am not sure Chili. There is always the option to opt out on the other manadatory vaccines for 'religious' reasons. I guess I might end up in the pokey! LOL
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:43 pm
14? Oh man, I must be so out of it. I just cannot imagine sex at 14. I was over ten years older than that...
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Seamonkey
Moderator
09-07-2000
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:43 pm
ACK, Pamy!! Better have your hemoglobin checked! Or eat nice rare steak.
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Texannie
Member
07-16-2001
| Monday, February 05, 2007 - 9:45 pm
(((Pamy))) cone biopsy? had tons of those! i will keep you in my thoughts that it's nothing and if it is, it's been caught early.
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