We are hearing a lot about Cervical cancer (which kills a woman every two minutes according to some estimates) and now getting the HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) Vaccine may help prevent it.
One does indeed wonder how it is that a cancer could be prevented by a vaccine. The Cancer website explains it thus:
It has been seen that HPV infections of a persistent nature are a major cause of cervical cancer. According to estimates, 11,000 women in the United States would be diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2007, and that about 4,000 would die from it.
Researchers have found that HPVs may play a role in some cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina, and penile cancer. Not only cancer of the genital area, HPV is seen to increase risk of cancer of the oropharynx.
This is the reason that women are advised to have the HPV vaccine; in order to reduce the risk of contracting cervical cancer.
