Cervical Cancer: Towards A Preventive Vaccine?

Main Category: Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology;  Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 04 Jan 2007 - 16:00 PDT

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Cancer of the cervix is the second most common cancer in women, with about 500 000 new cases and 250 000 deaths in 2005. Almost 90% of cases occur in developing countries.

If untreated, cervical cancer is almost always fatal. In 2006, a vaccine that protects against infection and the disease associated with HPV received its marketing authorization and another vaccine could also shortly be authorized.

In addition to being a new means of preventing a very common form of cancer, the introduction of effective vaccines has other potentially beneficial consequences for health systems in general.

The introduction of such vaccines could help to develop synergies between vaccination, cancer control and sexual and reproductive health. It could also yield valuable experience for the future introduction of a vaccine against HIV.

World Health Organization (WHO)

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