Cervical cancer vaccines raise hopes

NEW vaccines against cervical cancer have been described as a historic breakthrough by the Irish Cancer Society (ICS).

But the ICS pointed out that even with the imminent availability of the vaccines, it was vital that all women aged 25 or more have regular smear tests.

A vaccine called Gardasil is due to come on the market next month while a second vaccine, known as Cevarix, is expected to be available towards the middle of next year.

Gardasil can be administered in three doses over a six-month period to young girls and the full course is expected to cost €300.

New research presented at the International Papillomavirus Conference in Prague indicates that Gardasil may protect against more cervical cancer causing viruses.

Gardasil has already been approved by the US Food and Drugs Administration.

Ireland has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in western Europe with 180 new cases annually and more than 70 deaths from the disease each year.

The ICS warned that even vaccinated women will need to be screened on a regular basis as not all cancers will be prevented by the vaccine.

It also remains to be seen from clinical trial programmes how long the protective effect of these vaccines will last.

Consultant gynaecologist and a member of the ICS’s medical committee, Dr Grainne Flannelly, said it was still early days for the vaccine that seemed to offer protection for around four-and-a-half years and it did not provide protection against all cervical cancer-causing viruses.

But, while there were cost issues involved, she believed the vaccine offered a serious potential benefit for the current generation of 11 and 12-year-olds.

Dr Flannelly said serious consideration should be given to using it as part of a national immunisation programme in the same way as the one for rubella.

Cervical screening prevents the development of cervical cancer because it recognises a pre-cancer state in the cervix. This allows for successful treatment before abnormal cells are able to spread and do harm.

The ICS has been campaigning for a national screening programme and welcomed plans to introduce one in 2008, as indicated in the National Cancer Strategy.

*Anyone with queries about the vaccines, cervical smear tests or cervical cancer can call the National Cancer Helpline on Freefone 1800 200 700.