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ICANEWS
Junio / Julio 2007, Año 3 # 14 |
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| A Virus Reaches Notoriety |
| by Dr. Roberto
Adamow
Consultant Gynecologist |
Microbiology is a vast and exciting
subject. When I was a student, over 25 years ago,
getting a passing grade was no minor achievement.
Therefore it was important to prioritize Microbiology's
most relevant subjects.
The large world of bacteria, parasites and viruses
never ceases to grow, along with their ever-changing
scientific names and characteristics. The chapter
on viruses included a topic called the Human papillomavirus,
or HPV, which was only 2 pages long back in my med
school days.
During final exams, having other more important subjects
to worry about, I often wondered
what teacher / professor was ever going to ask me
about a virus that was only known for being the cause
of the genital wart? Furthermore,
back then, only two subtypes of this virus were known
to exist so it really wasn't that relevant.
In 1986, Dr. Alexander Meisels and Dr. Roger Fortin
from Montreal Canada, discovered that the HPV is found
in all cervical cancers, therefore establishing its
oncological responsibility. To this day, 150 subtypes
have been characterized.
In order to increase awareness, we
must take into account that cervical cancer was once
the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women.
(The Pap smear has reduced cervical cancer rates in
developed countries and now ranks third place.)
Thanks to the advances of research, women can now
count on a Cervical Cancer / HPV vaccine that will
perhaps eradicate this terrible disease that affects
many young women between the ages of 17 and 35.
So do not hesitate get your vaccine today!
Even if a woman has had the HPV/Cervical Cancer vaccine,
she will continue to require a cervical cancer screen
by the Pap test. |
| Glossary |
achievement:
logro
wonder: preguntarse
wart: verruga
awareness: consciencia |
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