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February 02, 2007
The Human Papilloma Virus - Twenty million people in the USA infected
By: Dr. S Lawson
 The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted disease (STD). HPV is at epidemic proportions in the united States. There is an 80% life time risk of acquiring this infection. Twenty million people in the United States alone are infected with HPV but are unaware of it. Cervical cancer is the 2nd most common cause of cancer world wide. HPV affects primarily the cervix, but the penis, anus, and the mouth can be infected.
Predisposing risk factors include smoking, oral contraceptive pills, pregnancy (low immunity), inadequate nutrition, early age of sexual activity, multiple sexual partners, weakened immune system (HIV positive, chemotherapy) and other STDs i.e. Chlamydia. Transmission requires skin to skin contact. Some strains of HPV predispose women to develop cervical cancer and some strains have predisposing factors for warts. HPV-DNA test is available to detect the presence of HPV infection in women. The Pap (Papanicolaou) test is a screening test that will identify precancerous cells of the cervix so that further diagnostic and therapeutic work up can be implemented to prevent the development of cervical cancer. Gardasil is a vaccine, approved by the FDA, for young girls and young women age 9-26 that provides substantial protection against the most common strains of HPV.
Vertical transmission (mother to child) is a serious but rare mode of infection in HPV infected women. Condoms significantly decrease the transmission of HPV, but transmission may still occur where the exposed skin comes in contact (i.e. shaft of the penis and the vaginal wall and the scrotum and the perineum). HPV has been identified as an etiology of oral cancers. Anal intercourse increases the risk HPV induced dysplasia (potential precancerous cells), especially in women with cervical dysplasia. Cigarette smoking is the most serious risk factor that causes cervical dysplastic cell to become malignant. HPV is so common in HIV positive women, that it is listed as an "AID's defined illness". Chlamydia is an intracellular parasite, a common asymptomatic infection, that make the cervical epithelium more prone to mutation of certain protective mechanisms. When HPV enters a human cell, it takes control of the cell's replicating mechanism and causes cell to grow uncontrollably, giving rise to warts.
DNA testing shows that approximately 90% of all cervical cancers test positive for HPA-strain-16,18 and 45. HPA-6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts. The Pap test is an effective way to detect precancerous cells. Current guidelines recommend women have their first Pap test about 3 years after they begin to have sexual intercourse, but no later than age 21.
If a woman gets an abnormal Pap test result, a colposcope (light microscope) is used to magnify the view of the vagina and cervix. Endocervical curettage (scraping of cells in the endocervical canal) or biopsy can be used as definitive test for malignancy. If precancerous or malignant cells are found, curative techniques are used to destroy the malignant cells. The LEEP technique involves the use of a thin, low voltage wire loop that cuts out abnormal tissue. Cryotherapy freezes and destroys abnormal tissues. Laser therapy uses a narrow beam of light to destroy abnormal cells and Conization removes a cone-shaped piece of tissue using a knife, a laser, or the LEEP technique. About 60% of cervical cancers are discovered in the early stage where cancer cells have invaded the cervix, but it has not spread anywhere else. If the cancer is not controlled it can cause cervical bleeding that would require radiation (intravaginal). Radiation is usually successful in controlling the bleeding and growth of the tumor, but scaring of the vaginal wall and premature menopause are usual a result. The Gardasil vaccine provides protection against the most common strains of HPA-16,18, 6, and11. The vaccine does not protect against the less common strains, so regular Pap tests will be needed to detect the presence of precancerous cells to allow for proper treatment. One draw back with the vaccine is that it may actually increase the risk of developing cervical cancer in women already exposed to the virus. The vaccine is less beneficial in females with more lifetime sexual partners.
Anything that compromises the immune system will predispose an individual to HPV infection. Obesity causes an estrogen dominant state which leads to excessive cell replication. Excessive fat is an indication of excessive toxins (heavy metals and pesticides, herbicides, toxins of cigarette). Substances like coffee, alcohol, sugar, and boiled tap water deplete the body of nutrients that support the enzymes that make our immune system function effectively. Foods that can boost the immune system and stimulate immune modulating activity at the genetic level are broccoli (indole-3-carbinol), Shatakii, reshi and matakii mushroom boost the NK (natural killer cell) activity which destroys cancerous cells. Foods high in antioxidants (antioxidants stabilize and protect DNA from mutation, thus ensuring adequate circulation and cell replication) i.e. green tea, black sesame seeds, brazil nuts, walnuts, cherry tomatoes, wild salmon, sardine, herring, pomegranate juice, mangoes, essential oil. All these therapeutic modalities are most effective when there is optimal cardiovascular function.
For more info
Email: jesusdave2000@yahoo.com
Posted by yardFlex at February 2, 2007 11:30 AM
Comments
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Posted by: Marie
on February 2, 2007 02:54 PM
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Yardflex thanks for the information, this goes to show that u r not all about gossips
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Posted by: Brilla
on February 2, 2007 10:37 PM
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It is quite interesting that something as informative as this does not have many comments. Maybe yardflex should have added one of the entertainers name to it saying she or one of his partners (whoever he is) has HPV. Is it that Jamaicans are not able to understand the text or we believe it is not for us especially we women. Ladies let us start protecting ourselves as men are the ones who carry this virus and most times we find out when it is too late; that is when we are suffering from cervical cancer.
Thank u yardflex I welcome the fresh air-new information. Something uplifting different from the passa passa
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Posted by: Tamara
on February 3, 2007 06:24 AM
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I have been hearing about HPV for awhile now and I have been trying to do alot of reading up of the subject. It's good that they have a vaccine out now I am just wondering when will it finally reach Jamaica and I know when it does it will be very expensive
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Posted by: Tatie
on February 3, 2007 06:26 PM
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WELL SAID BRILLA....SEE HOW SOME PPL IGNORANT? DEM MIND STAY PON DA PASSA PASSA 2 MUCH.....DATS WHY U NAW GO GET NO COMMENTS ON DIS ONE YA
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Posted by: stickdog
on February 4, 2007 06:10 AM
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The Facts About GARDASIL
1. GARDASIL is a vaccine for 4 strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV), two strains that are strongly associated (and probably cause) genital warts and two strains that are typically associated (and may cause) cervical cancer. About 90% of people with genital warts show exposure to one of the two HPV strains strongly suspected to cause genital warts. About 70% of women with cervical cancer show exposure to one of the other two HPV strains that the vaccine is designed to confer resistance to.
2. HPV is a sexually communicable (not an infectious) virus. When you consider all strains of HPV, over 70% of sexually active males and females have been exposed. A condom helps a lot (70% less likely to get it), but has not been shown to stop transmission in all cases (only one study of 82 college girls who self-reported about condom use has been done). For the vast majority of women, exposure to HPV strains (even the four "bad ones" protected for in GARDASIL) results in no known health complications of any kind.
3. Cervical cancer is not a deadly nor prevalent cancer in the US or any other first world nation. Cervical cancer rates have declined sharply over the last 30 years and are still declining. Cervical cancer accounts for less than 1% of of all female cancer cases and deaths in the US. Cervical cancer is typically very treatable and the prognosis for a healthy outcome is good. The typical exceptions to this case are old women, women who are already unhealthy and women who don't get pap smears until after the cancer has existed for many years.
4. Merck's clinical studies for GARDASIL were problematic in several ways. Only 20,541 women were used (half got the "placebo") and their health was followed up for only four years at maximum and typically 1-3 years only. More critically, only 1,121 of these subjects were less than 16. The younger subjects were only followed up for a maximum of 18 months. Furthermore, less than 10% of these subjects received true placebo injections. The others were given injections containing an aluminum salt adjuvant (vaccine enhancer) that is also a component of GARDASIL. This is scientifically preposterous, especially when you consider that similar alum adjuvants are suspected to be responsible for Gulf War disease and other possible vaccination related complications.
5. Both the "placebo" groups and the vaccination groups reported a myriad of short term and medium term health problems over the course of their evaluations. The majority of both groups reported minor health complications near the injection site or near the time of the injection. Among the vaccination group, reports of such complications were slightly higher. The small sample that was given a real placebo reported far fewer complications -- as in less than half. Furthermore, most if not all longer term complications were written off as not being potentially vaccine caused for all subjects.
6. Because the pool of test subjects was so small and the rates of cervical cancer are so low, NOT A SINGLE CONTROL SUBJECT ACTUALLY CONTRACTED CERVICAL CANCER IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM -- MUCH LESS DIED OF IT. Instead, this vaccine's supposed efficacy is based on the fact that the vaccinated group ended up with far fewer cases (5 vs. about 200) of genital warts and "precancerous lesions" (dysplasias) than the alum injected "control" subjects.
7. Because the tests included just four years of follow up at most, the long term effects and efficacy of this vaccine are completely unknown for anyone. All but the shortest term effects are completely unknown for little girls. Considering the tiny size of youngster study, the data about the shortest terms side effects for girls are also dubious.
8. GARDASIL is the most expensive vaccine ever marketed. It requires three vaccinations at $120 a pop for a total price tag of $360. It is expected to be Merck's biggest cash cow of this and the next decade.
These are simply the facts of the situation as presented by Merck and the FDA.
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Posted by: kerri
on February 5, 2007 08:07 AM
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To respond to Tamara, you know the research was actually done in Jamaica. Jamaican had first access to the drugs. I heard Dr. Winston Alexis on WAVS with Mr Barnes talking about it for the longest time. The Dr has been encouraging parents to ensure that there children get vaccinated especially since the test was done in the Caribbean on predominantly black girls.
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Posted by: Michele Scott
on February 27, 2007 04:21 PM
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Thanks for the break down about the hpv vaccine.
People are out there jumping to take this vaccine and no one really knows the definite outcome. It s clear that this vaccine is not ready to be taking and scientist need to go back to the drawing board.
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