drug approval

Federal drug officials on Thursday announced the approval of a vaccine against cervical cancer. This new drug could save thousands of lives in the United States each year. The vaccine is called Gardasil, it guards from harmful results of human papillomavirus. For fifteen years the National Cancer Institute referred to the drug as a landmark. If put into use federal experts will recommend that 11 to 12 year old girls receive the vaccine because boys are not approved to use the drug yet. A Merck spokeswoman said the vaccine was approved for girls and women ages 9 to 26 and by the end of June would be available in doctors' offices.

Cervical cancer is a malignancy of the cervix and it is the second most common cancer in women. Most of the scientific studies done have found that human papillomavirus is most likely to blame for cervical cancer. The mailgnant cervical tumors include squamus cell carcinoma (about 80-85%), adenocarcinoma, adenosquamous carcinomas, small cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma, melanoma, and lymphoma. It usually must be treated with the removing of all infected parts through a hysterectomy. But, with this new drug this painful experience and procedure could be prevented before it begins. If this drug is successful it will be a huge advancement in health technology that will save millions of women to come.