Going for my Cervical Cancer Vaccine!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2004
Going for my Cervical Cancer Vaccine!
12
Mon, 10-02-2006 - 11:51am

Hi guys,
I guess this is a little of-topic, but I just made the appointment to go in and get my Cervical Cancer Vaccine (HPV Vaccine) in 2 weeks. I'm pretty excited, since I Think it's such a great benefit. I'm 26 now, so i'm just at the cutoff end for being abole to get the shot.

I think it's a great thing to be able to get a shot that can prevent me from getting cancer later on in life. It's amazing what advances medicine has come to over the years, isn't it?

I just thought I'd share that with you all. I think it's something all young women should talk to their doctors about getting..

Laura

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-26-2005
Mon, 10-02-2006 - 3:20pm
yay!!! that's a good thing...a question...is your insurance covering it?? I've heard where insurance cos are sometimes fighting it....
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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2004
Mon, 10-02-2006 - 10:53pm

Well, I didn't mention it earlier because I didn't want to sound like an advertisement, but I work for merck, who developed the vaccine, so we're able to get the vaccines free of charge at our onsite health services center. I think most of the major insurance companies are starting to cover it. I think it's just a matter of time before it gets moved through their approval...i'm sure they're not in a rush to pay for more than they need. My insurance is through Aetna however, and i'm able to get their coverage too if i had gone to my Gyno to get it. It's just more convenient to run over to the health services at work and get it done.

I basically squeaked by with the age requirement. The maximum age range is 26 and there are 3 shots in the series...the 3rd is given 6 months after the first, so i'll get my 3rd shot 2 mos before i turn 27. Just in the nick of time. But I figure i might as well get it while i can!

Laura

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 10-03-2006 - 7:43am
So those of us over 26 are out of luck?
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2004
Tue, 10-03-2006 - 8:35am

Yeah the label for the product only is approved for Women ages 12-26. I believe the school of thought is that most women come in contact with one of the strains of HPV in their lives regardless just due to sexual contact and whatnot over the years. THere are many different strains of HPV, and many of those don't produce any observable effects and your body will fight them off naturally with your immune system. Nevertheless, there are a handful of strains of the HPV virus that cause conditions such as Genital Warts, Cervical Cancer lesions, etc.

Exposure to any of the strains, whether harmful or not, prior to vaccination, will lessen the effectiveness of the vaccine. (your body doesnt elicit as much of an immune response to the vaccine since it's already "seen" the virus in the real form--trying to give the 'readers digest' version of vaccine biology). The reason they want to target women as young as adolescence is because they can be vaccinated prior to being exposed to the virus, as the earlier the better since they aren't sexually active yet.

I think the biggest uproar in the public against the vaccine is that many parents don't want to get their girls vaccinated when they are 12-13 years old because the of the whole STD taboo of the disease. No parent thinks a vaccine for a STD is important when their daughter is only 12. Granted it can keep them safer from cancer in the later years of their life.

It's a shame for those of us who are still young and just miss the cut off. Unfortunately the vaccine just came out this summer, so it is kind of a bummer for those who couldn't get it. I don't think most doctors will do it for people who are out of the age range, simply because the FDA has not approved its use for people outside the designated age bracket.

I'm engaged and have been in a monogamous relationship for years now, so it's really not a major risk factor for me at this point. But my feelign is that it doesnt hurt to protect myself, because who knows, god forbid something could happen to my future husband years down the road, and i'd still want to be protected. (not something I like to think about, but I'd rather get the protection while its still available to me).

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2006
Tue, 10-03-2006 - 9:28pm
I had asked the nurse about it a few months ago, right after it first got FDA approval, and she had no idea what I was talking about. Do you need to make an apointment specifically for it? It is widely avaible yet, cause when the nurse finally found out what it was it didnt seem like it was availbe yet? Maybe I should go ask again.
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2004
Tue, 10-03-2006 - 9:47pm

The vaccine received FDA Approval Mid-June, so maybe when you spoke with your doctor it either wasn't approved yet or just hadn't penetrated the market yet. It "should" be available through most doctors, especially OB/GYN's considering the indication. I'd try checking with your doctor. My Gyno said they could do it as just a vaccine visit where i'd just come in and get the shot rather than a full exam visit.

It's a 3-shot vaccine, you get the 1st, then the 2nd 2 months later, and the 3rd 6 mos after the first. But after that you should be good forever. It's not like a tetanus shot where you have to go back for boosters every 10 years or so.

I think without insurance it's rather pricey. For the 3 shots total it runs around $300-350. Since it's new, a lot of insurance companies still don't have it on their list of approved vaccines, so i'd call your insurance company before making the appt just to be sure you don't get stuck with an unexpected bill later on! The govt put it on the list of "recommended vaccines" for adolescent girls to get, which means most insurance companies should pick up the tab before much longer.

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-03-2006
Tue, 10-03-2006 - 10:49pm
Thanks for the info!
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-09-2006
Wed, 10-04-2006 - 1:58pm

I am 23 and I am on the waiting list at my ob/gyn office to get the shot. So many people came for it that they temporarily ran out. The only downside is that I have to pay for each shot upfront, at $150.00 each one for the the series of three shots.

On another note, you can get this shot as young as 9, and they say the younger the better. I called my aunt, who has an 11 year old to tell her about it. Her and my uncle absolutly refuse to let her get the shot. I tried to explain the benefits, but she wants to hear nothing about it. It is sad that I have such an ignorant relative. If anyone has any suggestions as to how to convince her, let me know!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-06-2004
Wed, 10-04-2006 - 2:29pm

Thats a shame, but it seems that ignorance is getting the best of people and is becoming the biggest challenge for this vaccine.

Anything that could prevent cancer down the road, in my opinion is something people should consider.

Maybe points to make with your aunt and uncle:
1. she could wait until marriage before ever having sex, and still contract it. All it takes is that the guy she marries had contact with it and is a carrier.

2. it shouldnt discourage girls/women to be any less "careful" with taking care of their bodies since there still is always the risks of AIDS, other STD's, and of course pregancy that should encourage protecting themselves. I dont think most girls/women even worry about HPV considering all the other risks out there.

3. i'd encourage them that it is something they can do for their daughter to protect her down the road, when by the point she would be able to cover the cost on her own, she may be too late to protect herself.

Other food for thought, Quotes from a CBS news article:
Experts estimate up to two-thirds of cervical cancers could be prevented if the vaccine is widely used _ but not for years because cervical cancer can take two decades to develop.

The vaccine targets four of the roughly 40 types of human papilloma virus: HPV 16 and 18, which cause about 70 percent of cervical cancer cases, and HPV 6 and 11, which cause 90 percent of genital warts.

Human papilloma virus is the No. 2 cancer in women, killing nearly 300,000 a year, ...Cervical cancer each year kills about 3,500 American women, mostly in their 40s and 50s.

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-01-2003
Wed, 10-04-2006 - 8:40pm
Just a note, my Dr. is encouraging me to get the vaccine. I will be 44 in December. When I asked about the age requirement, he stated the reason that there is an age requirement is because that is the only group studied. He feels benefits could be derived from my getting the vaccine. I currently have the HPV virus, but not the strain that causes cervical cancer. Thoughts? I was told by the nurse that the shot is $262.00 for each in the series, insurance companies are just getting on board with it, but due to my age, it will most likely be out of pocket.

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