HPV and Cervical Cancer

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HPV and Cervical Cancer
This campaign has been produced by The Royal
Society of Health with funding from Sanofi
Pasteur MSD. Sanofi Pasteur MSD has reviewed this
article / item for accuracy. Editorial control
remains with The Royal Society of Health. Correct
at time of print July 2008.

• Information for students, parents and guardians

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HPV and Cervical CancerWhat you need to know

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2nd most common cancer in women under 35
Only occurs in females
CERVICAL CANCER
Cervix opening to the uterus
Almost always caused by Human
Papillomavirus (HPV)
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What is the Cervix?

• The cervix is the lower end of the uterus, where
  it opens into the vagina.
• The cervix undergoes changes in shape and
  structure during the course of a womans life
  (puberty, labour and menopause).

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How are Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Cervical
Cancer related?

• Human papillomavirus is common most women will
  become infected in their lifetime.
• Most infections have no noticeable symptoms and
  over 90 of infections are cleared by the bodys
  immune system within a year.
• There are over 100 types of HPV but only 13 of
  them are known to cause cervical cancer.
• If the body does not clear the infection,
  abnormal cells can develop in the lining of the
  cervix.

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No symptoms / silent virus
Contagious and transmitted through skin to
skin genital contact
HPV
HPV is very common
Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused
by HPV and other types can cause genital warts
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What can we do to help prevent Cervical Cancer?

• Immunisation / Vaccination
• Girls have a course of 3 injections (at school)
  which will protect them from the types of HPV
  that cause cervical cancer.
• Screening / Checking
• From the age of 25 in England and Northern
  Ireland, 20 in Scotland and Wales women are
  regularly screened for cervical changes.

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Vaccines are given to people by doctors, nurses
or health administrators
Vaccines help protect you against many diseases
Some vaccines are injected, like the HPV
vaccine. Some can be taken by mouth like the
polio vaccine
Vaccines contain antibodies that fight against
specific diseases
Vaccines
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Immunisation in School

• A team of nurses / health professionals will be
  coming into school very soon to give Year 8 girls
  their injections.
• Girls will need 3 injections in total. 1 every
  couple of months.
• These injections will protect girls against
  certain types of HPV that cause 70 of cervical
  cancer.

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Immunisation in School

• When
• Vaccination 1 Wednesday 8th October 2008
• Vaccination 2 Thursday 20th November 2008
• Vaccination 3 To be confirmed
• Where
• Priory Community School Main Hall

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Things to Remember

• Take your consent form home for your parent /
  carer to sign.
• Return consent form promptly by the return date
  Thursday 25th September 2008.
• Please wear loose fitting / short-sleeved school
  shirt, or T-shirt under your shirt, to enable
  easy access to the top of your arm, on each of
  the three days.

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Things to Remember

• Dont worry!
• Prevention is better than cure!
• Dont believe rumours, talk to your school nurse
  or teacher.
• Drop in sessions available to discuss any
  concerns / rumours.

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Further information

• The Royal Society of Health HPV and Cervical
  Cancer The Basics Leaflet, available to
  download from www.rsph.org
• Arm Against Cervical Cancer, NHS QA Fact Sheet
  available from www.immunisation.nhs.uk/publication
  s/HPV_leaflet.pdf

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What are the different types of Human
Papillomavirus?

• There are more than 100 types of human
  papillomavirus.
• Most of the them are relatively harmless, like
  the ones that cause common warts found on hands
  and feet.
• A few are responsible for diseases such as
  cervical cancer and genital warts.