Topic of cancer

[April 25th, 2007] Ten American women die each day from cervical cancer, and another 11,150 will be diagnosed this year with the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.

Next to breast cancer, this is the deadliest type of cancer for women worldwide, and now the most preventable one—if you can afford the vaccine.

A breakthrough occurred last June when Merck announced federal approval of Gardasil, a cervical cancer vaccine that has a nearly 100 percent success rate of preventing cancer for females who get the vaccine between the ages of 9 and 26. It works by blocking certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV, commonly known as genital warts) that are linked to cervical cancer. Vaccine advocates say the immunity lasts up to five years, though some critics question its efficacy.

Merck says the vaccine's wholesale price is $360 for the three-shot regimen. Insurance can cover some of the expense, but for about 300,000 uninsured Oregon women and girls, the cost of the vaccine can be prohibitive.

And what your doc can charge ranges widely (thanks to extras like syringes, salaries and "miscellaneous medical supplies"), according to WW's survey of six places in Portland that offer Gardasil.

Gardasil Chart (pdf)