Department of Surgery
A new brief from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) adds further momentum to movements recommending a single dose of the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine. Originally recommended as a three-dose series when first approved and made widely available, the CDC currently recommends two doses of the HPV vaccine for 9 – 14 year […]
August 4, 2022 It’s not what many kids want to hear right now, but the new school year is just around the corner. Even while the long days remain filled with summer activities, families are starting to make plans for the first day of school and the coming year. While it’s hard to know what might […]
The results are not really a surprise, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t important. In what is the first large study to directly look at HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination and risk of cervical cancer – rather than risk of cervical pre-cancers – researchers found that vaccination substantially lowered cancer risk. And vaccination at younger ages, […]
By Dr. Graham A. Colditz You’ve likely heard of the HPV vaccine, but what you may be surprised to hear is that it is one of the most important advances in the field of cancer in the last 20 years. And while it may not be on the list of required vaccines at your child’s […]
By Hank Dart An important new report further confirms that the HPV vaccine is both safe and extremely effective at preventing cervical pre-cancers that could develop into cervical cancer. The report, published Wednesday in the Cochrane Library, reviewed the results of 26 HPV vaccine clinical trials that included over 73,000 girls and women ages 15 […]
by Dr. Lindsay Kuroki Parents grow up wanting their kids to be healthy and happy. And taking control of your child’s health may be easier than you think with evolving research. We know that with healthy eating, encouraging exercise, staying safe in the sun, and getting scheduled vaccinations your child is on the right path […]
Only two doses now needed for most youth, instead of three By Katy Henke HPV, or human papillomavirus, is an increasingly popular health topic these days. Not only are there news stories about HPV and the HPV vaccine just about every week, but there’s a push across nearly all levels of healthcare — from federal […]
by Katy Henke With Labor Day weekend bringing summer vacation to a close, parents are putting the finishing touches on preparation for the impending school year. In addition to school supplies and new clothing, parents should also be vaccinating their children prior to school starting. Vaccinations help prevent possible future infections and diseases. Prevention through […]
By Sydney Philpott Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a very common sexually transmitted infection. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), most sexually active women and men will have an HPV infection at some point in their lives. While HPV infections usually go away on their own, certain types persist and then serve as the primary […]
While the ultimate goal of the HPV vaccine is to prevent cancer, that benefit can feel very far off in the future, especially since vaccination ideally takes place in eleven and twelve-year-old girls and boys. But studies looking at the five to six years after the vaccine was approved and became widely available show that […]
by Hank Dart Thirteen years ago, in an earlier incarnation of Cancer News in Context, we wrote our very first post about the potential of the HPV vaccine following the release of a promising study in the New England Journal of Medicine. That post – “A Shot in the Arm for Cervical Cancer Prevention” – […]
By Sarah Cortez New guidelines from two professional medical organizations strongly suggest that the HPV (human Pap test micrograph. Photo: Flickr/euthman papilloma virus) test can be used on its own as an effective alternative to standard Pap tests in most women being screened for cervical cancer. For seventy years, the Pap test has been the […]
Photo: Flickr/PAHOWHO by Sarah Cortez When given before the start of sexual activity, the HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine prevents most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts. It can also lower the risk of oropharyngeal, penile and anal cancer. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection, and we target the vaccine to 11-12 olds, as we […]
Photo: Flickr/Melissa Wiese To work in the field of cancer prevention one has to be an optimist at heart. In the science, in the statistics, and in the news, you see not only the broad burden of cancer but also the vast opportunities that exist to lower risk and prevent the disease. At the same […]
Adding to the growing benefits linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that protects against cervical cancer, is a new study providing solid evidence that the vaccine will also likely help protect youth and young adults from developing throat cancers later in life. The study appeared in the journal PLoS One and was also written up in today’s New […]
With the use of the the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine gaining in popularity, the direct link between HPV infection and cervical cancer is gaining a much broader public understanding. What’s less well known to people, though, is that HPV is linked to more cancers than just cervical cancer. As detailed in a new article in the […]
Much has been written over the past few months on progress against cancer. For example, in the New York Times, Kolata summarizes funding for cancer research and shows the percentage of health research funding spent on cancer treatment research, cancer biology, and cancer causation, with only a small fraction on early detection and prevention (1). […]
A new survey conducted by the National Center for Sexual Health Promotion at Indiana University has found that well over half of sexually active teens in the United States regularly use condoms when they have intercourse, a percentage much higher than that for sexually active adults. The survey, reported in today’s New York Times (link) and set to appear in […]
Previously, it was estimated that 70% of cervical cancer is caused by just two strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) – strains 16 and 18. Those are the same two strains that the HPV vaccine (sold under the name Gardasil in the US) protects against. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease and the vaccine protects […]