Human papillomavirus

Cervical cancer is the second most prevalent cancer (second to breast cancer) to affect women in South Africa. The most common cancer to affect black women - 31 per cent of all cancers - it is also preventable and treatable. It is associated with the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), of which the most prevalent strains are 16 and 18. Cervical cancer also appears to be an opportunistic infection among those living with HIV as it links to a weakened immune system. In South Africa a woman's risk of developing cervical cancer is one in 26. Each year 6 700 women develop cervical cancer while 3 700 die from the disease annually in South Africa.

People with HIV have a much higher risk for many cancers, including anal cancer, but a lower risk for prostate cancer, researchers said on Tuesday. Some types of cancers like Kaposi's sarcoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma have long been associated with people infected by the virus that causes AIDS.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC - A newly published study in the June 22, 2006 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine shows that use of condoms helps protect against human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, further substantiating condoms' usefulness in preventing most sexually transmitted infections, say two reproductive health experts at Family Health International (FHI) in an accompanying commentary.

20 JUNE 2006 GENEVA -- Leaders of the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, are coordinating action to reverse the global trend of deteriorating levels of sexual and reproductive health and reduce the adverse impact on mothers, babies and young people.

A study of more than 33,000 women published in the June issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that testing for high-risk types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) is a significantly more sensitive tool for cervical cancer screening than either conventional or liquid-based cytology (Pap testing), announced Digene Corp. (NASDAQ: DIGE).

In what officials called a major public health breakthrough, the Food and Drug Administration yesterday approved the first vaccine developed to protect women against cervical cancer.

A breakthrough might have been achieved with the recent acquisition of a vaccine for cervical cancer in women.

The Medicines Control Council has been urged to fast-track approval of Gardasil, the first vaccine against cervical cancer. The appeal came from the head of the South African subsidiary of Merck, the pharmaceutical company which late last year announced research results that pointed to the astonishing efficacy of the vaccine.

CHICAGO (AP) Low-income American women and women in developing countries who are tested for cervical cancer could benefit from faster, more aggressive treatment, two studies suggest.

Columbia-led study of nearly 7,000 women overcomes traditional barriers to more expensive, cumbersome pap tests for highly preventable & treatable cancer.