Preventative Vaccine for Cervical Cancer Story aired: Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of death among women worldwide, killing nearly 300,000 each year. Because of the widespread use of pap smears in the US, the numbers of deaths caused cervical cancer are dramatically lower, about 3800 each year.
The new vaccine, Gardasil, was approved by the FDA for use in the US last week, but the vaccine raises questions about when young women should receive it and whether the injection should be mandatory.
Doctor Ursula Matulonis, an oncologist at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, joins us to explain how the vaccine works. We also speak with Arthur Caplan, professor of bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania, about the ethical concerns raised by the new vaccine.
Guests:
Doctor Ursula Matulonis, Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston
Arthur Caplan, professor of bioethics, University of Pennsylvania
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