The HPV vaccine--not just for cervical cancer

[Loren Pechtel]

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn11819&feedId=online-news_rss20

It looks like it will help with throat cancer also.


Of course this will enrage the fundies even more as the risk factor is oral sex.

[I. C. Unicorns]

I had this fundie brainstorm. Let's give everyone HPV to prevent the spread of oral sex!!!

[Chelsea]

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn11819&feedId=online-news_rss20

It looks like it will help with throat cancer also.


Of course this will enrage the fundies even more as the risk factor is oral sex.

I think that what really gets them is that they want to give it to quite young girls, to be sure to catch them when they are virgins.

[Plognark]

I think that what really gets them is that they want to give it to quite young girls, to be sure to catch them when they are virgins.

Well, yeah, that's kind of the point.

The objection is that they think it will promote promiscuity or something. Because that's way more important than preventing cancer. :rolleyes:

[Craig]

Did I read that right? This virus is a much larger risk factor than smoking? Wow. This vaccine really needs to be part of the mandatory immunization routine, because I'd venture to guess that most women are going to have more than 5 oral sex partners, even if they are not very promiscuous in general.

Is semen now going to be considered a carcinogen? :)

[Caine]

Did I read that right? This virus is a much larger risk factor than smoking?

No, it says that factors like smoke and alcohol were controlled. That means that smokers were only compared to other smokers etc.

Wow. This vaccine really needs to be part of the mandatory immunization routine, because I'd venture to guess that most women are going to have more than 5 oral sex partners, even if they are not very promiscuous in general.

This research means it might become important for men too. Which I think is an excellent idea really. Why should it just be a female responsibility simply because the consequences of HPV infection might be worse for them?

[dancer_rnb]

I've been thinking about this in relationship with the claim that avoiding sex untill marriage
will prevent STDs 100 per cent. The latter claim is not true. The only thing that will prevent STDs is NEVER having sex. How many men or women have been given STDs by their spouse?
They really need to give this vaccine to boys as well as girls.

[Loren Pechtel]

Did I read that right? This virus is a much larger risk factor than smoking? Wow. This vaccine really needs to be part of the mandatory immunization routine, because I'd venture to guess that most women are going to have more than 5 oral sex partners, even if they are not very promiscuous in general.

Is semen now going to be considered a carcinogen? :)

Given this report I'm wondering how many other cancers it's going to end up implicated in.

[Loren Pechtel]

Did I read that right? This virus is a much larger risk factor than smoking? Wow. This vaccine really needs to be part of the mandatory immunization routine, because I'd venture to guess that most women are going to have more than 5 oral sex partners, even if they are not very promiscuous in general.

Is semen now going to be considered a carcinogen? :)

No, it says that factors like smoke and alcohol were controlled. That means that smokers were only compared to other smokers etc.

Craig read it right. HPV is a far higher risk factor than drinking or smoking. Controlling for the various factors doesn't mean that you can't compare the risk levels.

[Caine]

Craig read it right. HPV is a far higher risk factor than drinking or smoking. Controlling for the various factors doesn't mean that you can't compare the risk levels.

Of course you can compare them, but the article linked does not do so in the correct fashion - "By comparison, either smoking or drinking increases the risk of such cancer by about threefold" is not entirely correct. Heavy smokers have a 2000% to 3000% higher chance of dying from laryngeal cancer according to the US Surgeon General's Reports on Smoking and Tobacco Use. Oral sex can increase the risk (of getting throat cancer not dying from it this time, so the stats are not exactly comparable) from 250% to 750%.

[Caine]

I should probably add that HPV has a risk factor of 3200% so it may well be the largest risk. However oral sex is not itself a larger risk than smoking.

[blastula]

Oral sex can cause throat cancer

Science is stupid.

[premjan]

Science is stupid.
viruses are stupid.

[wonkothesane]

So now we can't munch carpet, suck dick, or even KISS!?!?!

That's it, life sucks.

[Caine]

So now we can't munch carpet, suck dick, or even KISS!?!?!

Don't worry, you will be fine as long as there is a layer of latex between you and your......er.......hermaphrodite?

I am sure there are lots of places that sell full body condoms, go get one!

[paradigm9]

the risk factor thing is somewhat misleading by omission. infection with HPV 8 and 16 are higher risk factor than smoking. they directly cause cancer and dont necessarily need natural selection to build up sequential genetic lesions to transform their host cells.

sort of like saying HIV is a greater risk factor for AIDS than unprotected sex.

side note...condoms arent that great at blocking hpv transmission