What is the Human Papilloma Virus?
To help shed light on HPV, a panel of local health experts will hold a special informative session, “Exploring and Conquering HPV – An Expert Panel Discussion” on Tuesday, March 28, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the East Tennessee State University Culp Center Dining Room No. 2 on the third floor. Lights refreshments will be offered from 5:30 to 6 p.m. for attendees.
Tuesday’s session, which is free and open to the public, will offer answers to questions about HPV, including how common it is, what types of health problems HPV can cause, how the HPV vaccine works and how infection can be prevented.
“It’s critical,” Linda McClure, HPV team leader for the Northeast Tennessee Regional Health Office, told the Elizabethton Star Wednesday about the importance of Tuesday’s discussion. “Having these types of discussions are important to promote the benefits of HPV vaccines and being able to provide more information. We’re excited about having the opportunity to meet with the public to discuss the issue.”
McClure, joined by Dr. David Kirschke along with other experts, will spend time with the public helping raise awareness for a common virus that can be prevented with the right measures.
The Tennessee Cancer Coalition, the Tennessee Department of Health, Student/University Health Services and School Based Clinics and the College of Public Health at ETSU are all partnering to help make Tuesday’s event a reality.
According to information provided by the Northeast TN Regional Health Office, HPV is extremely common with nearly everyone picking up different strains of the virus during their lifetimes with most being harmless.
However, strains of the ordinary virus have the possibility of causing cancer in individuals.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data from 2008-12 that indicated approximately 39,000 HPV-associated cancers occur in the United States each year; roughly 23,000 among women and about 16,000 with men.
HPV is the most commonly spread sexually transmitted infection, often caused by vaginal or oral sex. Cervical cancer is the most common HPV-associated cancer, but can cause others, including cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus. It can also cause cancer in the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils, called oropharyngeal cancer.
HPV vaccines are recommended for both males and females starting at the age of 11 until 26 years old, McClure said, while the youngest an individual could receive an immunization would be at nine years old.
Tuesday’s meeting also proves to be vital due to the discussion taking place on a college campus, where the age demographic falls into the recommended age for immunizations, McClure said.
“HPV infection is preventable,” she added.
The regional health office added that HPV vaccines will be available on-site following the discussion for eligible individuals. Attendees wanting to take advantage will need to have a photo ID and insurance card to receive a shot.
McClure stressed the benefits of receiving a vaccination — with the primary reason as individuals have the opportunity to prevent types of cancers that go along with HPV.
“HPV vaccine prevents cancer. That is a remarkable upside and one I made sure my own children, boys, took advantage of years ago,” said Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, in a statement to the Elizabethton Star. ”I urge parents to ask for it and healthcare providers to make it their clinical practice to encourage parents to have their children receive it. Why wouldn’t we want to make cervical cancer and other cancers a thing of the past in Tennessee?”
Along with Tuesday’s event, TDH encourages residents to receive regular check-ups from their dentists and primary care provider, along with routine pap tests for women, to help catch HPV cancers early.