Crvical Cancer Screening Essay

HPV is so common in the United States that nearly all men and women will contract the virus at some point during life (Center for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2017). In the United States, in 2008, it is reported that 3.2 million, or one in four adolescent women, ages 14 to 19 have had or have an STD (Kostas-Polston et al., 2012). The rate of HPV cases has only increased since 2008. The prevalence of a genital infection with any HPV type was 42.5% among United States during 2013–2014 (CDC, 2017). The incidence of HPV in the United States is about 14 million people each year.

Prophylactic vaccination against high risk human papilloma virus 16 and 18 represents an exciting means of protection against HPV related malignancy. However, this strategy alone, even if there is a level of cross protection against other oncogenic viruses, cannot completely prevent cervical cancer. In some countries cervical screening programs have reduced the incidence of invasive cervical cancer by up to 80 percent although this decline has now reached a plateau with current cancers occurring in patients who have failed to attend for screening or where the sensitivity of the tests have proved inadequate. Cervical screening is inevitably associated with significant anxiety for the many women who require investigation and treatment following abnormal cervical cytology. However, it is vitally important to stress the need for continued cervical screening to complement vaccination in order to optimize prevention in vaccines and prevent cervical cancer in older women where the value of vaccination is currently unclear. It is likely that vaccination will ultimately change the natural history of HPV disease by reducing the influence of the highly oncogenic types HPV 16 and 18. In the long term this is likely to lead to an increase in recommended screening intervals. HPV vaccination may also reduce

“Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection (STI)…it is the most prevalent STI in the United States, with strains causally linked to oropharyngeal and other cancers”. (Osazuwa-Peters p.1) It is understandable why people want to prevent such a virus. Since the FDA approval of HPV vaccines, in 2006, there have been many positive unobtrusive ways that states have adopted to prevent or control HPV, such as public education about the disease, legislation on funding, HPVcervical cancer screening. However, some states have attempted to mandate children to take the vaccine

HPV is by far the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 50 percent of all sexually active men and women will get it at some point in their lives, and 20 million already have it. A vaccine is available that prevents 70% of cervical cancers that arise from sexual intercourse. The human papillomavirus is unknowingly common and is diagnosed in 10,000 women a year, causing 4,000 deaths per year (“HPV Question and Answers”). If we take the responsibility to vaccinate young girls and boys, to be safe, we can eliminate many unnecessary deaths. This vaccine is a great discovery that should be put to good use, the HPV vaccine should be mandated in young teens everywhere.

Among the many arguments for mandatory HPV vaccination, the foremost is that it is an important medical achievement and a major public health milestone. This vaccine has proven to be one-hundred percent effective in preventing the 4 HPV strains that are responsible for seventy percent of cervical cancers and ninety percent of genital warts. In addition, no serious side effects have been identified. Because this vaccine is a preventive measure, administration before onset of sexual activity is ideal; however, even females who have been sexually active can still benefit from this vaccination (Perkins et al., 2010). Nationally and internationally, the HPV vaccine will significantly reduce disease burden by reducing monetary and psychological costs of invasive procedures that remove precancerous and cancerous lesions. By combining vaccination with routine Pap smear screening, these public health efforts have the remarkable opportunity to eradicate cervical cancer (Ramet et al., 2011).

There are many ethical and legal issues that count against a mandatory HPV vaccination for all girls aged 11-12 years old. First, the long-term safety and effectiveness of the vaccination is unknown (Javitt et al., 2008). Clinical trials conducted on the HPV vaccine concluded no short-term adverse effects, but as more girls and young women begin to get the vaccine some adverse effects may appear (Javitt et al., 2008). The extent immunity of the HPV vaccine is also unclear. Studies have shown the vaccine to be present in 3-4 year follow-ups, but the long-term effectiveness has not been studied (Javitt et al., 2008). Furthermore, HPV has a long incubation period, which would only affect a small amount of individuals many years after they finish school (Stewart, 2008).

As with every infection, HPV infection can also be prevented. HPV vaccines have recently been developed, and combined with Pap smear, have significantly reduced the prevalence of HPV infection and cervical cancer. HPV vaccines have been approved by FDA in 2006, and were introduced under the market name Gardasil. It targets the four main types of HPV; 6,11, 16 and 18. They are recommended as routine vaccines for males and females in 9 to 26 age group. However, vaccination is strictly prohibited in pregnant women.

This paper will discuss the background of HPV, review current surveillance and reporting methods, conduct a descriptive analysis HPV’s epidemiology, review how HPV is diagnosed, including national standards for screening and prevention, as well as a plan for addressing HPV as an advanced practice nurse, including outcome

HPV is a virus that has been coursing through America since 1956 and was found to attribute to cervical cancer in 1984. It is a deadly infection that causes warts to appear on the body depending on the strain; it is transmitted several different ways such as skin-to-skin, sexual transmission and from mother to child via pregnancy. In 2006 the first HPV vaccination against four main strains of the virus was developed. This virus has been killing hundreds of thousands annually, in order to prevent further outbreaks we need to help provide awareness and immunizations affordable for everyone in order to prevent the spread of HPV. As HPV continues spreading throughout America it has become mandatory in some states for all females entering sixth grade must receive the vaccine with some medical/religious exceptions according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. “Since 2006, legislators in at least 42 states and territories have introduced legislation to: require the vaccine, fund or educate the public or school children about the HPV Vaccine. At least 25 states and territories have enacted legislation, including Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Utah Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.” (CDC). In some of these states the health departments are providing the

In an online survey, the survey administrator and his team asked over fifteen hundred parents of 11-17 year old children whether they agreed that laws requiring HPV vaccination for sixth grade school entry were “a good idea” about half of the parent believed the HPV vaccine, was at least as important as the Tdap and Meningococcal vaccines, the other two recommended for adolescent, only forty percent believed the vaccine prevented cervical cancer. Nearly a quarter of the parents inaccurately believed the vaccine might cause long term health problems and one

The Pittsburgh Cervical Cancer Screening Model (PCCSM) was used to estimate cancer risks for patients screened

Today, vaccines are available that guard against certain types of HPV to help prevent cervical and other cancers around the genital area, as well as oropharyngeal cancers and genital warts. The CDC recommends that all preteens both girls and boys be vaccinated before age 13. Although, women can still get the vaccine through age 26 and men up to age 21, unless they have a weakened immune system, and then 26 is the maximum

Methods: A computerized search was conducted using CINAHL, Pub Med and Cochrane systemic reviews. 990 articles were found of which, 500 were appropriate for the topic. 300 identified with HPV in women and 200 were identifiable to males. Of the 990, researchers selected 10 articles based on HPV, vaccination, prevalence, transmission, screening, prevention and overall interest in random control studies.

Cervical cancer screening is a preventive measure – it is testing of all women at risk of cervical cancer from who most will be asymptomatic. According to EU recommendations the screening should start at the age of 20 to 30 years and be extended up to 60 to 65 years with a 3- or 5-year screening interval (17). There are two types of screening programs – organized and opportunistic. The organized screening involves an explicit policy with specified age categories, method, and interval for screening; a defined target population; a management team responsible for implementation; a health care team for decisions and care; a quality assurance structure; and a method for identifying cancer occurrence in the population (18).

A global social media network for doctors and other health care providers polling and survey company, SERMO, states that 55% out of 1,952 doctors believe “the HPV vaccine should be mandated by states in order to boost vaccination rates.” (5)