Posted on 09/15/2011 9:55:39 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Heather Burcham died in 2007 when she was 31. Cervical cancer killed her. She was misdiagnosed at age 26, and by the time she knew she had cancer, it was too late for effective treatment.
But she changed lives by living hers so passionately.
She was deeply religious, quick-witted, loving, with a quirky sense of humor; and she was determined to save other young women. Her passion for a cause made her a "Person of the Week" on ABC's "World News" program in 2007. Heather likely would have been shouting from the rooftops in frustration, listening to the current political debate about the HPV vaccine.
For her, the HPV vaccine was about saving lives, not politics, not campaign donations. She probably would have been heartbroken to hear Texas Gov. Rick Perry backtrack from his commitment to have girls vaccinated against cervical cancer.
Perry made her the poster child for his HPV executive decision, and spoke eloquently at her funeral. What a difference four years later as he debates the topic with other Republican candidates.
Her words to ABC News in 2007 still resonate, in light of the current debate in which this one face of the disease has been lost amid the political rhetoric.
"I don't want to have died in vain," she said. "I don't want my life to have no purpose whatsoever, and if I can help spread the word about cervical cancer and the HPV vaccine, then I haven't lived in vain."
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Not a Palin supporter and I'll vote for Perry if runs against Obama. Kind of screws up your day a bit, eh?
So now that I have your attention. Have you innoculated your sons and daughters with Gardasil? Why didn't Perry mandate flu shots since the influenza virus causes ten times as many deaths as the HP virus?
From the CDC...In 2007 (the most recent year numbers are available)—
4,021 women in the United States died from cervical cancer.
*Death counts cover 100% of the U.S. population.
You said more died from the vaccine, may I ask how many died and where you get your figures?
HPV infections are indeed usually cleared out by the immune system, but not before they can introduce somatic mutations that can lead to uterine cancer.
The vaccine prevents the virus from running rampant creating these somatic mutations. That is how it protects from cervical cancer.
My interest in this has to do with science and public health, not politics.
Around 80% of women could benefit from this vaccine - i brought up this very relevant and meaningful fact in response to the ignorant statement that this vaccine is not something everyone needs.
No, not everyone - just 80%.
Have a great day now. God bless. I will pray for you. ;)
Yeah like about 1200, modiifed for population growth, since studies show 70% of cervical cancer deaths are HPV related while 30% are not.
Sure I do. It's my opinion and the facts are on my side. Bachmann was repeating an absurd claim and positioning it as a true potential threat of the vaccine on national television.
You still don't know what the term Luddite means. The Luddites were workers who destroyed mechanization equipment during the Industrial Revolution because the machines replaced their jobs. It has nothing to with mutations or vaccinations.
Generally, it is used to refer to older people. At least it used to be when I learned the word as a child.
“Remember that Palin has already made a public statement that she could support a Romney candidacy.”
True, as many of us here could if he’s the one that wins the Republican nomination. She didn’t, however say, she might have to hold her nose doing it.
Credibility is not important to you, I see. You see Sarah everywhere even where she is not - result of PDS. She’s not a candidate but a private citizen; surely, that isn’t something too hard for even you to understand. She has the right to speak out or not, like you. Only liberals think they have more rights than others.
Yes, but those 4 types account for 70% of all HPV-related cancers.
I don’t think that Palin wants the presidential nomination. I think she wants the VP nomination and she doesn’t care whether Bachman or Romney wins the presidential.
I still wonder how many of the Perry attackers were Romney attackers for Huckabee.
How do people get HPV?
HPV is passed on through genital contact, most often during vaginal and anal sex. HPV may also be passed on during oral sex and genital-to-genital contact. HPV can be passed on between straight and same-sex partners—even when the infected partner has no signs or symptoms.
A person can have HPV even if years have passed since he or she had sexual contact with an infected person. Most infected persons do not realize they are infected or that they are passing the virus on to a sex partner. It is also possible to get more than one type of HPV.
Rarely, a pregnant woman with genital HPV can pass HPV to her baby during delivery. Very rarely, the child can develop juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP).
http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm
You better provide a link because almost all scientists will tell you this: HPV persists in women who develop HPV related cervical cancer and the process is a slow one with cancer cells developing over 15-20 years which is why all women should have regular Pap Smears without being required to by Rick Perry executive orders.
Did you innoculate your sons with Gardasil yet?
Peaceout. God bless. Good luck Sarah.
It’s becoming very difficult to tell the difference between an Obama supporter and a Sarah supporter. They both seem to relish attacking all of our candidates and neither are shy about spewing hate.
That remains to be seen what you believe to be FACT is demonstrated over the course of TIME. We are NOT there yet.
You still don't know what the term Luddite means. The Luddites were workers who destroyed mechanization equipment during the Industrial Revolution because the machines replaced their jobs. It has nothing to with mutations or vaccinations.
And the TOEist have destroyed morality by pushing a religion of survival of the fittest. YET they cannot survive all on their own they are first in line to feed off the government teat.
As you know, the authority only applies to those going to public schools.
The same question applies.
3k people per year die of cervical cancer. 35k people every year die of the flu.
Why didn’t Perry mandate flu shots?
Maybe they don’t have lobbyists working for him and haven’t donated enough.
I think some are trying to smear Perry, but many just do not like a nanny state. Many are tired of government stepping way beyond the limits set when this country began. Some fight back at small infringements and hope that it will stop future larger actions by government.
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