Cervical cancer is still a scourge for women because it is one of the most common cause of cancer death. According to data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2004, every single hour, a woman dies of cervical cancer.
In fact, with the prevention and early detection of cancer most commonly caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) that can be reduced prevalence. Cancer prevention services can be one HPV vaccination and early detection or screening is by two methods: pap smear and visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA).
"Vaccination is equipped with screening reduces the risk of cervical cancer compared with screening alone," said a specialist in internal medicine dr Hospital. Ciptomangunkusumo (RSCM) Iris Rengganis his presentation at the Women's Health Expo, Saturday (03/09/2013), in Jakarta.
Vaccination, said Iris, can prevent illness caused by infection with HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18. "Types 16 and 18 are the main cause in 70 percent of the world's cervical cancer cases, and types 6 and 11 are the main cause of genital warts," he said.
Iris explained, HPV can be very close to you. Some studies show 80 percent of women will be infected by HPV in their lifetime, and 50 percent of them will be infected with HPV that can cause cancer in his lifetime.
"Even HPV only infects not only women, men can also," said the doctor graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia.
Yes, every male or female, any age, who took part in sexual activity, in any form involving genital contact is at risk. The only way to protect yourself from the HPB is to avoid sexual activity altogether. However this is not possible when it is already active for sexual activity, for example when married.
So, to prevent infection with HPV vaccination needs to be done is done 3 times, ie at month 0, 2, and 6. One-time injection of charge about Rp. 700 to 800 thousand.
"For the second injection had actually done just 2 months after the first injection. This is related to the ability of the body to form antibodies. While the third injection can be done up to a maximum of three years after the second injection," said Iris.
HPV vaccination has begun to be performed in children over the age of 10 years, in nursing mothers, but not in pregnant women. According to Iris, vaccination should be done early, because most HPV infections start from a young age.
Unfortunately, there are still many who do not care about either of these. "In the RSCM, only about 3 patients per month who conduct vaccination," he said.