CERVICAL CANCER: Be careful about promoting vaccination

THE Singapore Paediatric Society's call for a nationwide vaccination project against cervical cancer must be considered carefully.

Cervical cancer is Singapore's seventh-most common cancer.

 Drastic declines in the number of new cases detected and its mortality rates are due to the easy availability of Pap smear screenings.


Pap smears, only for women who have sex, are pivotal in reducing cervical cancer.


The cancer grows, slowly, typically taking seven to 10 years to develop, and is mainly caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) , which is transmitted only through sexual intercourse.


Most HPV infections clear naturally but 5 per cent turn into cervical cancer.


There are more than 20 types of HVP that cause cervical cancer, of which the vaccines protect against two that cause 70 per cent of the cancer.


The vaccines cost between S$450 and S$600, compared to other compulsory vaccines for children that cost S$10 to S$20 each.


So a national programme to vaccinate 180,000 girls aged 10 to 14 will be expensive (S$81 million and S$108 million) and the question of cost-effectiveness arises.


The vaccines' efficacy period is also unknown, but scientists have determined it to be no more than 6.4 years; not enough to cover the recommended 17 years from age nine to 26. Hence, vaccination will only postpone, not prevent, the cancer.


The vaccines' ability to prevent new cases is lower than the Pap smear's.
The vaccines do not protect against the remaining HPV types, leaving a 30 per cent chance of being exposed to the cancer.


The Singapore Healthy Ministry should track possible adverse effects because reports from monitoring centres WARN of serious and fatal effects on young Americans. Pap smears should not be relegated because they are not limited by a period of effectiveness, incur the lower rate of new cases and are safe. They are effective and cheap at S$15 to S$40 each time. 


The Singapore Cancer Society even offers free Pap smears. So it may be more cost-effective to spend on increasing the awareness and use of Pap smears .


To reduce cervical cancer, information about all methods of prevention must be offered.
Public education must emphasise the role of sexual abstinence and sexually transmitted diseases, and explain the importance of Pap smears even after resorting to HPV vaccinations. Only then should the role of HPV vaccinations be explained.


Otherwise, parents, girls and young women may be lulled into a false sense of security and inadvertently reverse the cancer's declining trend. --Edmund Leong ,The Chief Executive Officer of the Singapore Cancer Society.

Cancer Statistics TEN MOST FREQUENT CANCERS IN SINGAPORE Top 10 cancers affecting Singapore men Site Ranking No. Colo-rectum 1 4456 Lung 2 4062 Prostate 3 2860 Liver 4 1897 Stomach 5 1579 Skin (including Melanoma) 6 1404 Lymphoma 7 1247 Nasopharynx 8 1158 Kidney & Other Urinary 9 821 Bladder 10 759 Top 10 cancers affecting Singapore women Site Ranking No. Breast 1 7781 Colo-rectum 2 3750 Lung 3 2057 Corpus Uteri 4 1574 Ovary 5 1455 Skin (including Melanoma) 6 1136 Stomach 7 1113 Cervix Uteri 8 993 Lymphoma 9 960 Thyroid 10 808 Source: Singapore Cancer Registry, Interim Report (Trends In Cancer Incidence In Singapore 2006-2010)

(NaturalNews) Several doctors and women's groups in India are lambasting advertisements puts out by drug giants GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Merck for their human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine. Objecting to the claims being made that the vaccine protects against cervical cancer, The Sama Resource Centre for Women and Health, Saheli Women's Resource Centre, and a group of doctors are sounding the alarm that the ads are misleading and inaccurate. Marketed in the United States as Gardasil, the HPV vaccine is being touted by its manufacturers as the greatest thing since sliced bread as far as preventing cervical cancer. Even in India, the marketing campaign for the vaccine has been so successful that pediatricians all over the country are urging parents to have their adolescent daughters vaccinated. Budev Chandra Das, a professor of biomedical research at Delhi University, and Dr. Sidharth Sahni, a surgical oncology  consultant at Artemis Health Institute, have both been questioning the legitimacy of the vaccine, noting that there are many different types of HPV that the vaccine does not prevent and that there are other conditions that cause cervical cancer besides HPV. The vaccine is allegedly only effective on young girls who have never had sex, another important piece of information that doctors and researchers are saying GSK and Merck have failed to effectively communicate. Rather than divulge the truth of the matter, the two drug companies seem only to be interested in convincing as many people as possible to get the vaccine. Vani Subramaniam from the Saheli Women's Resource Centre also pointed out that the drug giants have concealed the truth about the many horrific side effects caused by the vaccine. Merck's public list of Gardasil's side effects include headache, fever, vomiting, fainting, breathing problems, seizures, chronic fatigue, chest pains, and stomach pain, just to name a few. Many young women and girls in the U.S. have developed severe, debilitating conditions after receiving their Gardasil shots. Aside from the known side effects, some girls have become paralyzed while others have developed chronic illness that has left them unable to function properly. Many girls have actually died from receiving Gardasil shots. The harm caused by Gardasil is obscene, leaving one to wonder how such a dangerous product can continue to be marketed and sold legally with no repercussions on the villains who are perpetrating it on the public. Not only is the vaccine a failure at accomplishing its stated purpose, but it continues to destroy the lives of the next generation of young girls who receive it. Sources for this story include:  http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/76944/Lifestyle/Vaccine+no+gu... Learn more:   http://www.naturalnews.com/028286_Merck_advertising.html#ixzz1vwLS1Vf9

Cervical cancer vaccine news,  articles and information: Merck's cervical cancer vaccine ads are inaccurate and misleading 3/3/2010 - Several doctors and women's groups in India are lambasting advertisements puts out by drug giants GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Merck for their human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine. Objecting to the claims being made that the vaccine protects against cervical cancer, The Sama Resource Centre for Women and... The Cervical Cancer Vaccine may Not Work, but Broccoli Does 11/12/2009 - Gardasil, a vaccine designed to prevent cervical cancer in women, has recently been the target of debate about its safety and efficacy. While young girls have been dying and key researchers are saying the vaccine doesn't work, there are dozens of studies using natural compounds in broccoli that DO work... Top researcher who worked on cervical cancer vaccine warns about its dangers 10/8/2009 - One of the key researchers involved in the clinical trials for both Gardasil and Cevarix cervical cancer vaccines has gone public with warnings about their safety and effectiveness. This highly unusual warning against these  vaccines by one of Big Pharma's own researchers surfaced in an exclusive interview... Cervical cancer vaccine continues killing young girls like Natalie Morton; is pathology report a pharma cover-up? (opinion) 10/2/2009 - Natalie Morton is dead. One week ago, she was an energetic and lively 14-year-old student who was just following doctor's orders. Like all her other classmates, she believed she was dutifully protecting her health by submitting to a cervical cancer vaccine jab. But a few minutes after receiving her... Cervical Cancer Vaccine Shots Cause Intense Pain; Girls Fainting 8/1/2008 - Merck's human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil is gaining a reputation as the most painful childhood shot, and has led to a surge in the rate of people fainting from vaccinations. Gardasil protects against the two strains of HPV that are responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancer cases and... Concept-related articles: cancer: Cancer is not a Disease - It's a Survival Mechanism (Book Excerpt) The mineral selenium proves itself as powerful anti-cancer medicine Healing Illness - A Natural Anti-Cancer Protocol New research shows vitamin D slashes risk of cancers by 77 percent; cancer industry refuses to support cancer prevention Mammograms cause breast cancer (and other cancer facts you probably never knew) Merck: Merck litigation strategy - destroy expert witnesses cervical cancer: The Tragic Truth behind the Gardasil Nightmare HPV: The Tragic Truth behind the Gardasil Nightmare cancer vaccine: Top researcher who worked on cervical cancer vaccine warns about its dangers Gardasil: Gardasil vaccination: Evaluating the risks versus benefits vaccine: Facebook crowdsourced investigation exposes vaccine denials of SIGA Technologies girls: Young girls now reaching puberty at age seven vaccines: Institute of Medicine adverse reactions report admits MMR vaccines cause measles, seizures, anaphylaxis and other health problems doctors: The great direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising con: how patients and doctors alike are easily influenced to demand dangerous drugs side effects: Statin drugs expose patients to dangerous, debilitating side effects NaturalNews: 2009 in review: A year of FDA censorship, Big Pharma crimes and celebrity drug deaths health: Where's the health in health care reform? safety: FDA drug safety bill passes in the U.S. Senate; health freedom advocates outraged at betrayal of American consumers WHO: A Real Reason to Boycott Whole Foods? marketing: Child-centered marketing causing kids to carry unhealthy food habits into adulthood Learn more: cervical cancer vaccine news and articles http://www.naturalnews.com/cervical_cancer_vaccine.html#ixzz1vwKrl96E Story 4: Cervical Cancer -- When There Is No War! Vaty (T-755, not real name) is a 71-year old female. About ten  years ago, Vaty had her right thyroid removed and eight months  ago, her left thyroid was removed due to the presence of a  nodule. According to the doctor these were not cancerous. Some time in February 2008, Vaty had frequent urination but  she passed out only a little amount of urine. Sometimes there  was blood in her urine. Vaty felt dizzy, her stomach felt full and  heavy. Everything in her mouth tasted bitter. She went for an  examination at a private hospital. CT Urography and CT scan of her abdomen and pelvis in 3 March  2008 indicated an enlarged and irregular cervix in keeping with  a cervical mass. The cervical mass extends into the right side  of the urinary bladder, producing an irregular mass which  obstructs the right vesicoureteric junction and results in right  hydronephrosis. Two masses were seen in the omentum in the  right side of the abdomen measuring approximately 3-4 cm each.   These represent metastases. There are also pelvic and  para-aortic lymphadenopathy. Vaty was told to have two stents (internal drainage tubes)  inserted into her ureters to facilitate her urine flow (note:   ureters are ducts that carry urine from the kidneys to the   urinary bladder). However, the doctor was unable to insert  these stents due to the blockage by the tumour. Vanty was  then referred to another surgeon who did a biopsy of her  tumour.  The cervical punch biopsies confirmed clinical  diagnosis of the cancer of the cervix. The surgeon told  the family members that there was no hope and the patient  would die soon. Vanty was advised to undergo palliative  chemotherapy and radiotherapy.  However, these treatments would not do much for her either.  Vaty declined further medical intervention and her children  (daughters and sons) came to seek our help on 7 March 2008. On 23 March 2008, Vaty’s two sons told us in greater detail  what had happened during their encounter with the doctors  at the hospital. Chris: What did the doctors tell you when you brought your  mother to see them? Son: For the first visit, I was not there. My two sisters went  with my mother to the hospital. At first we thought it was a  urinary problem. So we went to see a urologist, Dr. A. After  doing some tests, Dr. A said: I really don’t know what is wrong.   But he said that the right kidney was swollen. Dr. A referred my  mother to see Dr. B for further management. Based on his clinical  observations, Dr. B straight away told my sisters that my mother  has cancer and it is at an advanced stage. There is nothing that  can be done. No chance at all. Dr. B advised that my mother be  admitted for a biopsy. Chris: Why did he want to do a biopsy when he already said that it was an advanced stage cancer? Son: This was because the right kidney was swollen and Dr. A  wanted to insert the stents into the ureters . So Dr. B could also  do the biopsy at the same time. He wanted to confirm if the tumor is malignant or not. Chris: Did Dr. A manage to install the stents? Son:  No, the ducts were blocked by the growth. Chris: At that time, was your mother able to urinate? Son:  Yes but after each urination, she felt that not all the  content was discharged. Otherwise she was normal. Chris: Why did the doctor want to put the stent then? Anyway,  was Dr. B able to do the biopsy? Son: Yes. The biopsy was done. I was there in the hospital. The  doctor performed the blood tests, ECG and had the scans done. Dr. B said all the tests gave normal results.  Dr. B told me that  my mother has advanced stage cancer (even before seeing the  biopsy result) and I have to send her for chemotherapy and  radiotherapy. It she does not go for these treatments, the growth  will block the kidneys and my mother will not be able to urinate.  She will go into a comatose stage and die. This can happen  within the next few weeks. Chris: What? Die with the next few weeks? Son: Yes, that was what the doctor said. Chris: But your mother was still able to urinate you said. Son:  Dr. B said there will be a blockage later as the tumor  grows. I asked him what are we supposed to do now?  Dr. B replied:  Nothing – only chemotherapy and  radiotherapy.  Then I asked:What are the chances?   He replied: No chance – radiotherapy and  chemotherapy would not help. Chris: That being the case, why did the doctor want your  mother to go for chemotherapy and radiotherapy? Son: The doctor said the treatment can make her urinate  and she would not be in pain. This would prevent her going  into coma. It she doesn’t go for chemotherapy and  radiotherapy, she will die within the next few weeks. Chris: What was your reaction after hearing all these? Son: I told Dr. B I would go back home and discuss the matter  with my family. I then left. (Note: The family decided to seek  our help and Vaty was started on herbs.) After I came to  see you, I went back to see Dr. B again. The main purpose  was to get the biopsy result. I told Dr. B that we had decided  not to go for chemotherapy or radiotherapy. I told him: We  have gone to see Dr. Chris and we have started giving my  mother his herbs. Dr. B immediately said: No, no, the herbs  wouldn’t work. Chris: Was he angry when you said you were going for herbs? Son: No, but he straight away said that it definitely wouldn’t  help. He insisted that my mother go for chemotherapy and  radiotherapy. Actually I sensed that he was a bit annoyed  with me. He said: Bring your brother and sisters here and  I’ll explain to them. I countered by saying: You said  radiotherapy and chemotherapy wouldn’t work either.  Furthermore, people say that these treatments would be  painful and have side effects. Dr. B replied: No, no, there  would be no pain at all. I replied: My mother is already  71 years old.  The doctors still insisted that my mother go  for chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Though these  treatments wouldn’t help, Dr. B said: It is better to do  the treatment. Second son: It does not make any sense at all. How Doctor’s Comments Affect Patients  and  Their Family Members Chris: Just tell me honestly, right from your heart, how do  you feel about the comments made by Dr. B? Son:  I was very depressed and at the same time very angry.  You know, the way he put it is very depressing. The way he  delivered the message – whether my mother is going to do  chemotherapy or not, she is doing to die. He used the word  die, die, die so many times and he had no concern at all how  this word affected me. For him, my mother is just another  patient. Chris:  Why were you angry? Son:  In my work, I have encountered many doctors,  especially the pediatricians – they showed so much concern  for the children, but this guy (Dr.B), he had no compassion at  all.  In five minutes he used the word die, die, die so many times.  I was really angry and told myself, it was lucky that I did not  bring my mother along when I came to see him. Just imagine  how my mother would feel if she was to hear all these from  the doctor. Second son: When we came to see you, the way you talked  to us, made us so very confident. That is what a doctor  should be. Comments:  God was wise when He gave man the liberty to  do whatever man wants. God only kept to Himself the  prerogative to determine when and how man would die.  Unfortunately, in spite of that, some men still play God. Let me highlight some points for you to ponder on. 1. According to the doctor, without chemo-radiation,  Vaty will go into coma within a few weeks based on the idea that the urinary tubes will be blocked by the tumour.    The question is: what if the tubes are not blocked?   According to the doctor this is going to happen within a  few weeks. What does a “few weeks” means? As of this  writing (more than two weeks), Vaty is still able to urinate.    Are we to imagine that in the next two weeks Vaty is  going to pass off slowly? 2.  Whether Vaty undergoes chemo-radiation or not, the  treatment would not alter the prognosis. Vaty is going to die. That being said, what is the use of insisting that Vaty go for  such treatments then? According to the doctor, it is better to do it. Would you want to ask: What is so better about it?   Or is it just because the textbook says so – when you have  cancer you must do go for chemotherapy and radiotherapy!  3.  Dr. B said there would be no pain or side effects when  this 71-year old Vaty undergo chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Do you believe him?  4.  In our latest book: Cancer Why They Live, we wrote  about perceived unhappiness of patients towards their doctors.   Doctors behaved in such a manner that patients and their  family members felt disappointed and even betrayed.  Vaty’s son felt the same way. Can you figure out why Dr. B  was insisting that Vaty is going to die? All of us know that  doctors are no gods and there is that much anyone can do. But why is there a need to be so insensitive? Even in the  face of imminent death, good words would go a long way  to comfort the unfortunate. Why can’t doctors be gentle  and more compassionate towards their patients? Patients  come to them with full faith and trust. Whatever help and  reassurance given would go a long way to comfort them.  Why keep on insisting that she is going to die?  5.  When Vaty first came to see us she presented with  “cutting” pain in the right abdomen, poor appetite and being  unable to sleep. She felt tired when climbing the stairs. She   felt breathless and wheezed. She had stomach discomforts  due to wind and she burped a lot. She felt like vomiting and  that something was stuck in her throat. There was some  bleeding and she had bitter taste in her mouth.  6.  After two weeks on the herbs, Vaty felt better. Her  burping was less. Her appetite improved and she was able  to sleep well. She was not breathless anymore and there  was less wheezing. Her bleeding had stopped after taking  the Pain Tea for two days. There were no more pain in her  legs and no more backaches. The numbness that she felt  earlier was also gone after a week on the herbs. The feeling  of tightness in her throat was better.  In short, Vaty’s health  had improved after taking the herbs. Are we going to imagine  and say that within the next few weeks Vaty is going to go   into coma?  7.  Vaty’s sons and daughters brought their mother to see  us with good reason. One of  Vaty’s son is a friend of  Nathan’s son (who came to see us about his father’s bone  cancer in December 1999). Nathan and his family was told  by his oncologist to get his papers in order because he only  had six months to live. Nathan was on morphine every four  hours and was not even able to lie down to sleep. Two weeks  on the herbs, Nathan was able to walk to our centre. It has  been eight years now and Nathan is well (or medically they  say he is CURED!). He is able to lead a normal life. While we  cannot guarantee that Vaty is going to be like Nathan, there  is, however, a sense of hope when she was brought to see  us.  On our part, we have seen many, many people being  blessed like Nathan! So we never give up hope for  such people!  8.  After the herbs, Vaty felt better. To me and also to the  rest of the family, we understand what that means. One of  Vaty’s son said: I work in Kuala Lumpur and every week I  come back to see my mother. I could see the difference in  my mother’s face. She is getting better. And getting better   is all that matters. Vaty can once again begin to lead a  normal life – for a while or for a much longer time (hopefully  more than a few weeks!). NO, the doctors would scream –   feeling better is not scientific! It is not a cure. I agree! In  order not to mislead anyone, I have told Vaty’s  family  members: Even if she is feeling better, it does not mean  that the cancer is cured. The cancer is still there. But  under the circumstances that we are in, what choice do we  have? Would going for chemo-radiation be a better choice?  Would enduring the toxic side-effects of chemo-radiation be  a better option than taking herbs?  9. Family members of most cancer patients fully agree with  me that what matters most is their loved one does not  suffer while still alive. So to be able to eat well, sleep well  and move about, are all that they would hope for. And they  would be happy and grateful for that. All of us eventually die.  So death is not a consideration. We always remind patients  that we cannot win our battle against death. We have to  accept death as a natural process with grace.  But the  die-hard medical view is different. Die-hard doctors want to   conquer death or postpone death if they can and by any  means. These die-hards believe that their medicine and their  technology can do that. Often they fail miserably when it  comes to cancer. For more reports on cancer, click http://cacare.com/index.php?searchword=cervical+cancer&option=com_search&Itemid=   Cervical Cancer FAQ You Can Give Me Anything Except Chemo or Radiotherapy Surgery and Radiotherapy Did Not Cure Cervical Cancer:  Recurrence After Twelve Years To Undergo or Not to Undergo Radiotherapy / Chemotherapy? You Can Give Me Anything Except Chemo or  Radiotherapy   Yin was diagnosed with cancer of the cervix in 1999. This was  followed by an operation. Since everything was clean, no  further treatment was indicated. Barely four years later, in  August 2003, Yin suffered severe pains in her backbone.  Consultation with three oncologists yielded the same opinion –  Go for chemotherapy and radiotherapy.  These would not  cure her. The prognosis by these cancer experts was six   months to live! Yin said she would rather die than undergo  chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She took herbs and lived! Read more... Surgery and Radiotherapy Did Not Cure Cervical  Cancer: Recurrence After Twelve Years   An Tee was fifty-five years old when she was diagnosed with  cervical cancer. This was in 1996.She underwent surgery to  remove the cancer and this was followed by twelve external- radiation treatments. In addition, she received internal- radiation treatment. Ten years after this “apparent cure” An  Tee started to cough. Her doctor did not consider anything  amiss and she was told everything was alright. In August  2006, i.e., twelve years after her diagnosis, An Tee was told  that her kidney was not functioning well. A CT scan of the  chest indicated both lungs were studded with numerous  nodular lesions. Read more... To Undergo or Not to Undergo Radiotherapy /  Chemotherapy?   A 64-year-old Indonesian was diagnosed with cancer of the  cervix, Stage 2A. She received radiation treatment and  chemotherapy. The cancer recurred a year after completion  of the treatments. Patient died 1 year 8 months after  diagnosis. A 73-year-old lady from Penang was also  diagnosed with cancer of cervix Stage 2A. She declined  medical treatment and was only on herbs. Two years and  4 months later she was still doing well. Read more...