Earlier in the month Gareth Cliff had Elna McIntosh, a well known Clinical Sexologist, on his show on 5fm in aid of Breast cancer month.
Amongst other things she was talking about cervical cancer and how you can immunise girls from as young as 9 years old.
Off I (of course!) ran to the great big oracle of Google and you can click here and here for more information.
In a nutshell, 80% of cervical cancers is caused by the HPV virus and it is suggested that it is sexually transmitted.
Would you immunise? Have you immunised? Are we not immunising our children to death (literally)? Or should we doing everything and I mean EVERYTHING in our power to beat the big C?
At lot of us on this forum have girls, so it is a rather serious thing to consider.
What do you think?
ps If you are reading and not commenting because you have to register, it literally takes 20 seconds, DO IT!
pps sorry for all the links, hope I saved you some time on Google though 🙂
I think i probably would do it
I’m planning to do it – maybe not when she is 9 but surely before she is out of the teenage years.
They say it’s best to do it before they get sexually active. So, I’m asking myself, do I say to my girls: Just wait before you have sex, I just want to immunise you against cancer?
I’m also leaning towards it..
I truly think that this is an amazing medical breakthrough. My problem is the cost. R2500 per shot and there has to be three of them, that was the last time I heard.
I would definitely have Jess done if I had the money. xx
Thank you Shazzie, yes it’s very expensive, also I would have to pay twice the amount because of the girls!
I don’t have a daughter yet, but I guess I should get it done for myself. Gonna feel really stupid about quitting smoking if I get cancer from a bloody virus.
That is the problem! When do you decide to do it. Had a discussion with a maternity nurse the other day and she says teenage pregnancies are as common as alway – the teenagers are now only 13 and not 16 anymore.
I suppose we would have to stop playing ostrich and just do it when they are 9! For Zoe that is only 5 years away – ohh no, now I want to run away.
Haven’t even considered it for the girls.
Maybe I should.
Love the wait,let me immunise you before you have sex!
I am not sure… Luckily my girl is still very young (18months). Have a few years to think it over and consider it… But if we immunises for all the other awful viruses why not for cancer too? Now, I am confused…
I am leaning towards it, just hope the cost comes down in 6 year’s time.
Very good point!
Scary stuff hey?
Exactly!
Yep, so am I.
Yes, it’s very expensive!
I believe if there’s a quick injection you can have to prevent you from getting something that could be life-threatening, why wouldn’t you want to immunize? Seems the cost is a big issue, but the vax for meningitis that came out a couple of years ago was also pricey. As soon as Connor was finished with them, they made them available free at government clinics! So, if you can wait a bit, I’m sure the price will come down!
As for the when do you do it? Thank God I don’t have girls, as I’d hate to be naive about when they become sexually active!
I agree with Rebecca (also don’t have girls either) if you can immunize do.
I’ve seen adverts for this at the Baby Clinic – surely that’s a bit young – lol! Seriously though, if I had girls I would do it if I could afford it. It’s prohibitively expensive at the moment. There is also the issue that early sexual activity is also a risk factor for cervical cancer which is maybe why they suggest 9 as an appropriate age for immunization. Yikes, this is all too scary. And I learnt recently that sex with uncircumcised men is also a risk factor for cervical cancer so maybe I should talk to my boys about being circumsised. See what you’ve started!
Thanks Rebecca 🙂
I’m also leaning that way 🙂
All the boys in my house are circumsised.. (apparently also lessens chances of spreading HIV virus, but I bet THAT’s something you don;t want to think about..)
I am definitely going to do it, S is already 12 so will look at doing it before she goes to High School. Discovery is looking into the medical aid paying for it so then it will be a lot more accessible
That’s interesting, my gut reaction was ‘pfft, they’ll never pay for it’, but if anyone will it will be Discovery first hey?
A friend of mine died less than a month ago from cervical cancer, after having suffered severely for such a long time.
If there’s any way I can prevent this from happening to myself or my two girls, then immunise I will.
Still 5 years to think about it, but definitely will do it if it will prevent cervical cancer.
Please accept my condolences, so sorry to hear you lost your friend. I completely agree with you.
Agree!
i would definitely immunise when Frog and Squidgy are old enough. Cancer runs in our family in a big way, I’ll do everything in my power to prevent it.
We also have cancer in our family, I agree.
I know someone who contracted [cringe] HPV. She was one of the very very lucky ones, who had the strains that could be sorted out via a whole bunch of injections over the space of 8 months, and then a retest – which came up clear. She is very very very very lucky. She didn’t know she had it. Came up at a routine Gynae check. No symptoms, nothing. We are relieved for her. If I had girls, I would immunise as soon as possible. There is sadly no cure for the carriers [men], who don’t get affected, but carry it.
Which reminds me, I need to go for my annual check-up!
I was listening to that same interview and my thought was “Brilliant!”. Will definitely do it when Minkels is old enough. Its my responsibility as her mommy to do everything in my power to keep her healthy and potentially save her life.
Agree!
I would def give it to Babycakes. It is very expensive but I remember now that I read an article some time ago saying that the government is planning to add it to the free vacs.
At least we still have some time, hopefully the government will sort it out by then..