The Truth about Gardasil , Human Papilloma Virus, and Cervical Cancer

The governor of Texas, Mr. Perry, received 5000 dollars (from Merck Pharmaceutical) closely in time to his signing of an executive order, which sought to mandate all young women , within a certain age range, to be subjected to the Gardasil medication, made by Merck.

Perry claimed it was a "coincidence". Others may draw a different conclusion.

The Attorney General let him know that he could not legally force young girls to take the KoolAid...er....Gardasil. He could only suggest it.

Gardasil was being marketed loosely as a "cervical cancer vaccine". It is most certainly NOT a "cancer vaccine". It does not prevent one developing cancer of the cervix.

Can Gardasil even guarantee that those taking the medication will not contract any of the strains of HPV? No, they cannot.

BACKGROUND AND STATISTICS
Cervical cancer is NOT the leading cause of death in women. So first off, money spent on it could be better spent on the Number One cause of death in women in the United States.

According to the CDC, because of early detection, cervical cancer has been steadily DECLINING for the PAST 40 years. Declining NOT because of the use of Gardasil, but because of the use of PAP smears for early detection.

A look at recent statistics shows not only is it declining, but when you think about the fact there may be 150 MILLION women in the United States, the numbers of diagnosis of cervical cancer are relatively small.

From the CDC we read:
"According to the U.S. Cancer Statistics: 2003 Incidence and Mortality report, 11,820 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2003, and 3,919 women died from the disease that same year. 2 It is estimated that more than $2 billion per year is spent in the United States on the treatment of cervical cancer. 3For more information, view 2002 Cancers grouped by geographic area, National Cancer Institute—State Cancer Profiles, or Screening and Risk Factors Report: Had a Pap Smear in Past 3 Years and No Hysterectomy, 2004, All Races, Female, Ages 18+.-->"

So, in 2003, less than 12,000 women were diagnosed, and less than 4000 died with cervical cancer, out of almost 150 MILLION! That seems like a relatively RARE cause of death in women to me...almost 4000 out of 150,000,000.

In fact, according to the CDC, concerning HPV infection and how serious the infection is (or is not)...their website says
"Most people who become infected with HPV will not have any symptoms and will clear the infection on their own."

On the CDC website, under "IS THERE A CURE FOR HPV?"
they say this, reinforcing their previous statement.

"There is no "cure" for HPV infection, although in most women the infection goes away on its own."

Even MORE importantly, under the question
WHAT IS THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HPV AND CERVICAL CANCER?
the CDC says this:
"All types of HPV can cause mild Pap test abnormalities which do not have serious consequences. Approximately 10 of the 30 identified genital HPV types can lead, in rare cases, to development of cervical cancer. Research has shown that for most women (90 percent), cervical HPV infection becomes undetectable within two years".

Now, read the above statement again...everyone...
"Approximately 10 of the 30 identified genital HPV types can lead, in rare cases, to development of cervical cancer. " It says IN RARE CASES...rare cases...get it ?

Can the CDC be any MORE clear than saying that in RARE cases it can lead to cervical cancer? I think it is stated very clearly.

Now, we have established that it is RARE for HPV to lead to cervical cancer, and statistically, cervical cancer RARELY leads to death.

Gardasil is supposed to protect against FOUR types (strains) of the HPV virus. There are 30 types of the HPV virus. Only TEN of the 30 can lead to, in RARE cases, cervical cancer. Gardasil does not even claim to protect against half of those ten. It only claims to protect against FOUR of the ten...although they claim that those four account for 70 percent of the small number of cervical cancers linked to HPV. So, Gardasil claims to help protect against FOUR of the THIRTY strains of HPV (types 6, 11, 16, and 18), and we know that in 90 percent of females, HPV infections become undetectable in two years, WITHOUT ANY INTERVENTION.

Remember, this vaccine will not treat active genital warts or HPV-related cancers, and it will not cure HPV infection.

Possible , common side effects to women using Gardasil include, but are not limited to:

=====>pelvic pain;
=====>severe stomach pain; or
=====>pain, swelling, or stiffness in your joints.
=====> fever
=====> dizziness
=====> nausea
=====> bronchospasm and difficulty in breathing

Other reported adverse effects

Adverse Experience (1 to 15 Days Postvaccination)
GARDASIL (N = 5088) %
Placebo (N = 3790) %
Pyrexia (Fever)
13.0
11.2
Nausea
6.7
6.6
Nasopharyngitis
6.4
6.4
Dizziness
4.0
3.7
Diarrhea
3.6
3.5
Vomiting
2.4
1.9
Myalgia (muscle pain)
2.0
2.0
Cough
2.0
1.5
Toothache (yeah, TOOTHACHE)
1.5
1.4
Upper respiratory tract infection
1.5
1.5
Malaise
1.4
1.2
Arthralgia (joint pain)
1.2
0.9
Insomnia (difficulty sleeping)
1.2
0.9
Nasal congestion
1.1
0

SOUNDS LIKE FUN DOESN'T IT!

So, now, you have the straight dope, from the CDC.

You don't catch HPV from sitting next to someone folks. It is not like a cold. So, a lot of this hysteria is just that.

There is an old saying "Follow the money". Wanna see who benefits from hysteria over inflated claims of the dangers of HPV infection? Follow the money. Gardasil is adminstered via THREE SHOTS.

How much does it cost? From http://cancer.about.com/od/hpv/p/gardasil.htm we read
"Gardasil Cost: It has been estimated that Gardasil will cost between $300-$500. Federal programs will fit the bill if recommended by the immunization committee."

From http://uuhsc.utah.edu/pharmacy/bulletins/gardasil.html
it has a chart that says the AWP (average wholesale price) per series is
$450.00.

Now, if every young girl in school HAD been able to be forced to have been given this medication by mandate of governor Perry, think of that 450 dollars multiplied by the number of girls in the age range.

Seems like a good investment of only Five Thousand dollars, doesn't it?