Cervical Cancer Vaccine: Should It Be Mandatory For Young Girls?

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved the first cervical cancer vaccine.

It looks like it wont be long before the UK follows suit, especially as the Department of Health has issued a statement saying: 'Research has suggested that HPV vaccines may provide real benefit. The department is currently seeking expert advice on the efficacy, safety and benefits that these new vaccines may offer.'

Dr. Carolyn Runowicz, president of the American Cancer Society, calls it 'one of the most important advances in women's health in recent years.'

What Dr. Runowicz doesn't mention is that this advancement is completely unnecessary.

Cervical cancer: The transmission factor

The vaccine is called Gardasil, and it's been shown to offer 100 percent protection against strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause the overwhelming majority of all cervical cancers. (I've read various estimates stating that anywhere from 70 to 95 percent of cervical cancers are prompted by HPV infection.)

But here's the wrinkle: HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. (In fact, it's the most common STD.) So the vaccine is only effective when given to females between the ages of nine and 26 who are not sexually active. But this sexual element has opened up a contentious debate over whether or not the vaccine should be mandatory for young girls.

Although almost nothing gets under my skin more than the words 'mandatory' and 'medication' in the same sentence, I'm not going to open that can of worms today. Perhaps the most important fact that's being widely overlooked (deliberately?) is that HPV is easily detected and treated when women have regular cervical smear tests. And as every woman knows, regular examinations will still be necessary after receiving the vaccine. So why bother with a vaccine?

Well, I can think of one reason to bother. According to the Associated Press, industry analysts predict that Gardasil may exceed $1 billion in yearly sales for Merck, the maker of the vaccine.

Cervical cancer: Making it moot

I asked HSI Panellist Dr Allan Spreen, for his opinion on Gardasil, and he didn't mince his words: 'I'm not buying the vaccine for cervical cancer one bit. We're experimenting on women. Look at all the drugs that have been pulled after being advertised (and FDA approved) as a 'wonder drug.'

'Another reason I'm negative about such a 'preventive' is that I believe this cancer can be prevented anyway. I've had several women with bad smear tests revert to normal after using L. acidophilus intra-vaginally; along with high-dose B- 6, magnesium and folic acid orally, and B-12 sub- lingually (along with getting off the Pill).'

He also told me about a recent US cervical cancer study, which was conducted by Dr Maria Bell, a women's cancer specialist, who tested a substance called indole-3-carbinol (I 3C) extracted from Brassica (cruciferous) vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower and bok choy.

Dr. Bell recruited 30 patients who had either stage two or three cervical intra-epithelial neoplasia. (Stages two and three involve cancer that's somewhat developed, with possible local lymph-node involvement.) Diagnosis and follow up was conducted with smear tests, colposcopy examinations and biopsies.

For 12 weeks, 10 subjects took 400 mg of I 3C daily, 10 took 200 mg of I 3C, and 10 took a placebo. After three subjects dropped out of the study, Dr. Bell reported these results:

• In the 400 mg group, 4 of 9 patients had complete regression
• In the 200 mg group, 4 of 8 had complete regression
• In the placebo group, no subjects had complete regression

It's also a reasonable prediction that regular eating of these vegetables and/or taking I 3C or di- indolylmethane will prevent a significant proportion of cervical cancers.

Di-indolylmethane (DIM) is another substance found in cruciferous vegetables and is also available in supplement form.

So let's not consider forcing this vaccine on our nine-year-old girls when there are so many other safe, effective options.

Sources:

'FDA Approves Cervical Cancer Vaccine' Andrew Bridges, Associated Press, 6/9/06, ap.org 'Preventing and Curing Cancer of the Cervix'
Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Nutrition & Healing, May 2000, wrightnewsletter.com 'Coffee May Protect Liver From Alcohol, Study Says' Carla K. Johnson, Associated Press, 6/12/06, ap.org