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Cervical cancer's ranking as the world's second-most-common cancer among women may be in jeopardy.
Merck & Co. Inc. has unveiled a first-of-its-kind cancer prevention: Gardasil, a pricey vaccine regimen that can protect against two strains of a sexually transmitted disease responsible for about 70 percent of cervical cancer cases.
"It's significant," said Dr. Nils Stenman, an obstetrician and gynecologist at Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates of Lancaster, where the area's first doses of Gardasil were received last month.
"This is a preventative vaccine to significantly decrease chances of contracting a life-threatening or potentially life-ending disease."
There are hundreds of types of human papillomavirus, or HPV, a sexually transmitted disease so common that studies show 80 percent of women have been infected by age 50.
Two types of HPV can cause cervical cancer, accounting for 70 percent of cervical cancer cases in the United States. Of the 15,000 women in the U.S. annually diagnosed with cancer of the cervix, Stenman said about 4,000 will die.
"It's a dangerous cancer," Stenman said. "If you could reduce those cases by 70 percent, that would be an improvement."
Gardasil consists of three injections given over six months costing about $564.
The price is steep, but Merck reports Gardasil prevented 100 percent of cervical cancers related to HPV.
Also, studies showed Gardasil provided 99 percent prevention of two other HPV strains that cause genital warts in men and women.
Stenman said physicians at his practice are recommending Gardasil for girls and women ages 9 to 26. The key to preventing the most lethal HPV strains is vaccinating girls before exposure to the virus - before they become sexually active.
"It must be given as long before (HPV) exposure as possible," Stenman said. "In most cases, we think the time course from HPV exposure to cancer is five to 10 years, and some cases progress much more quickly.
"In terms of time, it might be five to 10 years before we see changes in outcomes, but the sense from Merck is that this provides lifetime coverage."
Stenman said physicians at Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates of Lancaster are discussing benefits of the vaccine with patients and their parents, but many insurance companies are still considering if and when to cover Gardasil.
"I would hope the insurance companies would realize the benefits of this vaccine just like the chicken pox vaccine and all the childhood vaccines," Stenman said.
Highmark Blue Shield has.
Spokesman Leilyn Perri said the series of vaccines will be covered as part of the pediatric immunization program for girls and women ages 9 to 21. For women 22 to 26, coverage will depend on the specific Highmark plan in which they are enrolled.
"We knew this was coming for weeks. We recognized the long-term benefits to our subscribers," Perri said. "It's the right thing to do."
(C) 2006 Intelligencer Journal Lancaster, PA. via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
