The First Annual Cervical Cancer/HPV Conference Tackles Controversial Vaccine Issues and Encourage...( National Cervical Cancer Coalition ...),Health

National Cervical Cancer Coalition unites women in joining the fight for education and early detection and prevention of the Human Papillomavirus

(HPV) and cervical cancer

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than 80 women and men gathered at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill in the heart of Washington, D.C. to attend the First Annual Cervical Cancer/HPV Conference, conducted by the National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC). During the two-day conference, controversial issues such as nationally mandating the cervical cancer vaccine for young women were tackled, as well as the discussion of debunking the stigma associated with HPV, a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI). The conference marks the first time women with HPV and cervical cancer gathered together in the United States to discuss the disease, treatments and prevention.

Perhaps one of the most important prevention topics discussed during the conference was presented by Juan C. Felix, M.D., professor of pathology and obstetrics and gynecology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, in regards to the new HPV vaccines. When attendees were asked during the beginning of the conference whether or not they would support a national mandate for all girls entering middle school to get the HPV vaccine, a little more than 42 percent could agree. After listening to Dr. Felix, and receiving all the facts and information, the NCCC took a second vote using a real-time computerized voting system and discovered more than 70 percent now advocated mandating the vaccine for girls between the ages of 9 and 13, as long as there was an "opt-out" offered to parents with objections. Of course, the attendees stressed that getting screened and having their routine PAP test, when coupled with an HPV test, is still the most effective early detection method available to women.

Additional HPV facts presented during the conference came from Heidi Ba
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