<p>Any thoughts on Gardasil? Clearly very hyped by Merck. I have a bad feeling about this vaccine, nothing to put my finger on, but this is being so widely recommended it's scary. There are no long term studies on the effects this might have on young women into child-bearing years. I am all for vaccines, but this one gives me pause. Anyone else?</p>
<p>There are long term studies on the effects of NOT getting Gardasil. Stop thinking conspiracy theory.</p>
<p>Just do it.</p>
<p>There was another thread on this a while back, with a lot of views. My wife is an oncologist, and, if I say so myself, knows what she is talking about when it comes to risks of cancer and scientific studies. Our 14-year-old daughter got the vaccine.</p>
<p>"There are long term studies on the effects of NOT getting Gardasil. Stop thinking conspiracy theory.</p>
<p>Just do it."</p>
<p>Questioning a vaccine isn't exactly conspiracy theory. I could say that not questioning a brand new, rushed through FDA, vaccine is being a sheep, but that would be ridiculous too.</p>
<p>DD was 19 years old when she had the vaccine. She made the decision herself...although she did call us to get our opinions.</p>
<p>Hunt -- I did a search before I posted my question but couldn't find any threads. Will keep looking. Thanks for passing on your experience.</p>
<p>Based on some of the reported side effects and testing I know one thing. I would not have a daughter take it in conjunction with any other shots. It would be a standalone shot. Studies taking gardasil with meningitis vaccine and a tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis booster are still ongoing and risks are unknown.</p>
<p>I don't know how to link to the other thread, but I just searched gardasil and found it. We did not let our D get it at 13, when they suggested it, and we still have not. I would like more info and I think we can wait in her case. I don't think conspiracy, but after disasters like baycol, redux, fenphen, arguably vytorin, just to name a few, I am not that confident in the drug studies provided by drug companies for some things. BTW this IS a big product for the manufacturer, and they have a vested interest in promoting it.</p>
<p>That said, I believe in medications, if you need them. Girls/women who plan to have sexual relations probably do need gardasil prior to commencing such. HPV is very prevalent. So of course the suggested age is low, presuming that many teens will need it. This is a know your kid issue. Speak frankly and try not to be judgmental so that the girl knows the risks etc. if it is not taken.</p>
<p>Also I think nearly all vaccines warn that they could kill you in event of an adverse reaction, but we still feel that most are necessary. Think of all the things that did kill people prior to vaccines. I don't think that most vaccines are known for long term toxicity, but maybe there are some that are (besides in science fiction).</p>
<p>anothermom2 you must also be aware of rape statistics.</p>
<p>I think to risk of NOT getting the shot is far worse than getting it. I don't want cervical cancer, and now I'm not going to get 90% (or something along those lines) of cervical cancers. Yes, the side-effects suck, but I think it's worth it if it's able to prevent cancer.</p>
<p>But my doctor won't recommend it until the patients are 16.</p>
<p>
[quote]
The development of cervical cancer is very slow. It starts as a pre-cancerous condition called dysplasia. This pre-cancerous condition can be detected by a Pap smear and is 100% treatable. That is why it is so important for women to get regular Pap smears. Most women that are diagnosed with cervical cancer today have not had regular Pap smears or they have not followed up on abnormal results.
[/quote]
MedlinePlus</a> Medical Encyclopedia: Cervical cancer</p>
<p>I grew up in a generation where regular Pap smears are the norm, and I don't have any reason to fear cervical cancer. I agree that too many vaccines are being rushed through, and too many are being required. It's a personal issue, and it is not a question of "conspiracy theory."</p>
<p>
[quote]
after disasters like baycol, redux, fenphen, arguably vytorin, just to name a few, I am not that confident in the drug studies provided by drug companies for some things.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Does the poster of this comment understand the difference between a "drug" and a "vaccine"? Does that poster have any idea of the huge difference in biology? Hint: the method of action of vaccines is well understood. The main difference among vaccines are (1) the antigens differ and (2) sometimes the adjuvants and excipients vary. But the adjuvants and excipients have well known biology.</p>
<p>Yes, some vaccines in the past, such as live polio, had rare but real risks, for known reasons. That's why the newer generations of vaccines are developed differently.</p>
<p>FWIW, last year I worked under the person who ran the clinical trials for this for Merck. He let his own daughters take the vaccine.</p>
<p>I think you can have this discussion with your daughter under the rubric of a whole range of health issues that she has to deal with over the next decade. Some of the smartest most accomplished women I know discovered in their 30's that they were infertile due to undiagnosed issues or STD's from their '20's (when they weren't exactly stupid... just felt as infallible and indestructible as people that age tend to be). To Garland's point- I'm sure her physician husband has met plenty of people (men and women) who get diagnosed with something late stage that would have been highly treatable or preventable 10 years earlier.....</p>
<p>Good to have an open discussion now. For the record.... suggested that my daughter be vaccinated, my OB/GYN agreed, she had the vaccine done at the college clinic. I know too many women diagnosed with late stage breast cancer and too many men with colon cancer and even young people in their 30's with melanoma..... you can ask, "how hard is it to check out a wierd looking mole on your neck" but it doesn't change the mortality statistics. </p>
<p>Is a colonoscopy annoying and expensive? Absolutely. Why does the physician in my gastro group have so many patients WITH A FAMILY HISTORY OF COLON CANCER who delayed getting a colonoscopy until they were symptomatic??? I have no clue. But since it's human nature to avoid unpleasant things for as long as possible, it's nice to be able to have an adult discussion with your daughter about Pap smears in general, HPV in particular, and women's health as a topic you can all discuss intelligently.</p>
<p>My 16 yo daughter got it the moment it came out. It's a fabulous medical breakthrough and I have no hesitations.</p>
<p>newmassdad, do you remember the recall of a vaccine that was given to all infants about 9 years ago...seems it caused intestinal problems. I do not remember the name, but it was a vaccine that was recalled. AFAIK it is still not back on the market.</p>
<p>The broader point is that drug companies are interested in profits, and both drugs and vaccines can go on the market when not all side effects have been reported and possible long-term side effects are unknown. And I'm concerned that because this vaccine does not prevent all HPV infections, it could lull girls into a false sense of security. Even with the vaccine, a yearly PAP is still necessary. </p>
<p>I agree with having a series of talks on STD's - one good thing about this vaccine is after D's doctor mentioned it, we had that talk. She hasn't had gardasil yet - when she is 18 and off to college she can make her own decision.</p>
<p>My understanding is that the vaccine is for some strains of human papilloma virus, cervical cancer is sometimes caused by the virus, but so are several other unpleasant things like genital warts.</p>
<p>My daughters are currently 9 and 5, but unless serious side effects are reported prior to their reaching our pediatrician's age schedule for Gaurdasil (currently 11 years of age), we will have our daughters vaccinated.</p>
<p>Blossom--yeah, most often when misdiagnosed as something else. Not cervical cancer, as he was a pediatrician. (But don't get him started on the leukemia treated with manipulations by a chiropractor.....)</p>
<p>If a young woman is not having regular gyn visits anyway, she's not taking care of lots of things that Gardasil also is not. If she is, she's getting Pap smears. I don't know anyone who doesn't take a Pap smear problem seriously.</p>
<p>Which is why the rate is so low in this country.</p>
<p>As a cytopathologist who has diagnosed my share of cervical cancers, and who would be ecstatic to get vaccinated right out of the pap smear reading business, i insisted that my D (20) get Gardasil. I did not want to know if she was sexually active or not, I just wanted her vaccinated.</p>
<p>I will say this - the shot, per her report is a little more painful than some other shots, and I also wonder about the "shot combining" that goes on these days.</p>
<p>If I had a girl under the age of 10, Deirdre, I would be looking for a Gardisil competitor, sorry I don't remember the company that will produce it, this vaccine will protect against a few more HPV serotypes. I felt my D was too old to wait for this vaccine.</p>
<p>Finally, one of the advantages to me of giving the vaccine to younger girls is that it removes or blunts some of the discussion about sexual activity, as with Hep B vaccine it makes the decision more of a medical decision and less of a social discussion.</p>
<p>Garland, my neighbor is a dentist who spends his vacation volunteering in a free dental clinic in a poor area. He sees cases of undiagnosed oral cancers and says that his amazement is that they often create lesions that are so painful it makes eating difficult. Imagine going to a clinic for a toothache and ending up a week later with a cancer diagnosis.</p>
<p>If people don't get their oral problems diagnosed on a timely basis I would be surprised if every woman in America was getting Pap smears right on schedule- especially since problem teeth are visible and can be painful, and cervical problems are generally neither.</p>
<p>You work with poor students.... do you think they're all following the AMA's suggestions on regular preventative care??? A mammogram is over $200 in my area. Does a 21 with a lump who is trying to pay this months rent run off to schedule a test every time something goes wrong in her life? Ask the next five female students who walk into your office the last time they saw a gynecologist.</p>