[LadyShea]

Every year, between 250,000 and 1 million women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical dysplasia. While it can occur at any age, the peak incidence is in women between the ages of 25 to 35. Most dysplasia cases can be cured with proper treatment and follow-up. Without treatment, 30 to 50 percent may progress to invasive cance - See more at: http://www.healthcommunities.com/cer....Sj3MvvMz.dpuf

Research findings presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Gynecological Oncologists in Tampa, FL suggest that after girls and women were given a cervical cancer vaccine, there was a significant drop in abnormal Pap test results. Associate professor Warner Huh, M.D. (Division of Gynecologic Oncology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, or UAB) states that his findings indicate that the vaccine GARDASIL seems to halt the development of cell changes that results in cervical disease.

There was a 43% reduction in abnormal Pap test results among women who received the GARDASIL vaccine compared to women who did not. This reduction was noted when testing for high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) - pre-cancerous changes in cervix cells - more than three years after women received the vaccine.

In addition, women who received GARDASIL had a 16 to 35 percent reduction in abnormal Pap results, such as milder pre-malignant cell changes.

It is not certain that GARDASIL prevents cancer, but the results indicate that the vaccine could save thousands of women from being diagnosed with cell abnormality or malignant changes, which would ultimately lead to more tests and perhaps surgery. The study results show that there was a 42 percent reduction in invasive procedures like cervical biopsies for women who received GARDASIL compared to those who did not.

The Society of Gynecologic Oncologists reports that about 25 million U.S. women between the ages of 14 and 59 have HPV, costing about $4 billion annually in screening and treating. "Dr. Huh's study concludes that the trials covered in this paper indicate an overall benefit of vaccination," says a statement from the society. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/100544.php

Despite these advances, U.S. screening programs are not reaching all women in the United States. It is estimated that half of the women diagnosed with cervical cancer have never been screened for cervical cancer, and an additional 10% have not been screened in the previous 5 years. Cervical cancer disproportionately affects women of lower socioeconomic status, without regular access to health care, who are uninsured, and who are recent immigrants. These populations stand to benefit most from HPV vaccination. HPV and HPV Vaccine - HCP

A colposcopy and biopsy aren't cheap, and neither is cryotherapy or laser surgery for dysplasia. So even though there are "only" 4400 deaths, there are many more cases of precancerous cells in need of treatment. Again, prevention makes sense.