Analysis of data from the PATRICIA (PApilloma TRIal against Cancer In young Adults) study has shown that Cervarix®, one of the two FDA approved cervical cancer vaccines is extremely effective. The results show that the vaccine is even able to prevent the progression of pre-cancerous conditions in women who are infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV) before they get the vaccine. In young women who receive the vaccine before they become sexually active, the vaccine was 100% effective in preventing the development of pre-cancerous or cancerous growths caused by viruses included in the vaccine (HPV subtypes 16 and 18).
The authors suggest that early vaccination should be strongly encouraged but that even after women have been infected, the vaccine is still very helpful.
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