Cancer Facts - Cervical Cancer

Cervical Cancer The cervix is the lower, narrow end of the uterus (the hollow, pear-shaped organ where a fetus grows). The cervix leads from the uterus to the vagina (birth canal). Cervical cancer usually develops slowly over time. Before cancer appears in the cervix, the cells of the cervix go through changes known as dysplasia, in which cells that are not normal begin to appear in the cervical tissue. Later, cancer cells start to grow and spread more deeply into the cervix and to surrounding areas. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the major risk factor for development of cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is a disease that can be very serious. However, it is a disease that you can help prevent. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the federal government's authority on cervical cancer. Contact them at 800-4-CANCER (800-422-6237) or go to the following web site: http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/wyntk/cervix Early symptoms of ovarian cancer are often mild, making this disease difficult to detect. Some early symptoms may include: An unusual feeling of fullness or discomfort in the pelvic region Unexplainable indigestion, gas, or bloating that is not relieved with over-the-counter antacids Pain during sexual intercourse Abnormal bleeding Swelling and pain of the abdomen About Gardasil Gardasil is Merck's investigational cervical cancer vaccine. Gardasil is designed to protect against four types of human papillomavirus (HPV): types 16 and 18, which account for an estimated 70 percent of cervical cancer cases and HPV types 6 and 11, which account for an estimated 90 percent of genital wart cases. In 1995, Merck entered into a license agreement and collaboration with CSL Limited relating to technology used in Gardasil. Gardasil is also the subject of other third-party licensing agreements. Cancer drug 'available in months' A vaccine which could prevent women getting cervical cancer could be available within months, the manufacture has said. Gardasil, which works against the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus linked to cervical and other cancers, has passed a major licensing hurdle, its makers said. http://www.guardian.co.uk Vaccine boost for cervical cancer ...If granted a licence, Gardasil, developed by Merck & Co Inc and Sanofi Pasteur, could be the first vaccine of its type to be available in Europe. It has recently been approved in the US, Mexico, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. http://news.scotsman.com Merck cervical cancer vaccine wins EU green light Gardasil, the first vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, was endorsed by a panel of European experts on Friday, bringing mass vaccination against the killer disease a step nearer. Gardasil, viewed by analysts as a multibillion-dollar-a-year seller, is a new kind of vaccine that prevents cervical cancer by protecting against the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus (HPV) which can trigger tumours. http://today.reuters.co.uk