[Guest]

hey guys, it's obnurse here. i have a few things to say about and to the people either against or on the fence about the hpv vaccine. this is NOT a sexual issue, it's the first time we have had a vaccine to stop a deadly cancer that affects so many women and their families in so many different ways because of its many different strains. as a nurse i have been in the room when my husband has to tell a patient that he has seen for 10-20 yrs. and her husband that her pap came back with what is 99% cancer. he then refers her to an oncologist and prepares her for chemotherapy and other traditional cancer treatments as well as a hysterectomy. some of these women have no children yet. what is not said is that if she had come in every year for a pap it may not have come to this-at this point there is no time for blame or guilt. we watch as they begin to take in the situation, as she thinks about her entire life, her family, and the possibility that it could all be over soon, leaving a grieving husband and possibly children either too young to remember her or old enough to have emotional scars forever. this all happens in a matter of seconds as they try to process the news. with preventive paps or aggressive treatment early this is curable, but what a horrible journey for her and her family to take--and then there are the ones that die!!!! now remember this vaccine only targets several critical strains of the virus-kind of like the flu vaccine. it is just like any other vaccination that we give to protect the precious children that are our lives. face it, your daughter unless they become nuns(which is great, i'm not downing that), will have sex one day. i mean you did right? as far as giving it to young girls & the "permission to have sex" that some people think it connotates, you simply explain that it is a vaccine just like the ones they give babies and this prevents one type of cancer. at 11 or 12 thats all they need to know and it is the absolute truth. as she gets more mature, you know your child, & can get more indepth when she is ready. she may never even ask about it again, but at least she is protected. i mean i doubt she asks about her tetanus shots every 10 yrs. to withhold a cure for cancer from your own child is abuse as far as i'm concerned. remember people, don't think of it as a sex issue think of it as a preemptive strike against cancer and that any woman sexually active most likely will contract a form of hpv one day--i hope if you don't get your daughter vaccinated that it goes away on its own- i hope she's not one of the ones hearing dreadful news across the desk from her dr.

[inspired]

my doctor was just telling me about that shot yesterday. i didn't even know there was a such thing before.

[Guest]

to inspired re; hpv vaccine

hey girl, yes it now is available but it is a 3 shot regimen given over a few mths. it is also expensive -but cheaper than a funeral!!!! insurance and medicaid usually pay for it. remember (and this may change) but right now it is only recommended for young girls that have never been sexually active. thanks for responding & have a great evening. bye, obnurse