Rick Perry's HPV Stance Grounded in Case of Heather Burcham, Who Died of Cervical Cancer

ABC News ^ | September 15, 2011 | GINA SUNSERI

[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."

[algernonpj]

Heather Burcham died in 2007 when she was 31. Cervical cancer killed her. She was misdiagnosed at age 26

She died from poor medical care, not the lack of forced vaccination of young girls.

Yup ... cervical cancer is a slow growing, easily cured, easily diagnosed cancer.

[thackney]

Only sluts get HPV.

Infection with the HPV virus is common and infects at least 50% of all people who have sex at some time in their lives.

http://www.webmd.com/sexual-conditions/hpv-genital-warts/hpv-virus-information-about-human-papillomavirus

Yes, I recognized your sarcasm. Sadly that view is held by some in reality.

[TheThirdRuffian]

I love it how paleo conservatives suddenly become fringe libertarians when talking about this vaccine.

Vaccines are, alas, a group activity, in that herd immunity is needed for any vaccination program to work.

The decision to mandate them was made with polio.

The truth is, many here want people who sin to be punished and live in a fantasy land where their kids won’t sin.

[Carling]

I realize that, but HPV is the primary cause of cervical cancer.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

[MNJohnnie]

So now a wrong action is justified by "Conservatives" because "we meant well".

Sorry that "we meant well" just makes Perry sound like the Leftists. They all try to justify their political mistakes by claiming "we meant well".

[shield]

OK....then support Ted Kennedy ooppss I mean Mittens. He is the only other running that has descent poll numbers.

[RockinRight]

Sarah isn’t running. And even if she did, and managed to get the nomination, she’d lose as badly as Goldwater did in ‘64.

And don’t think that if she did, that there aren’t some October Surprises in her closet, either. Maybe Glen Rice really did nail her (lucky bastard if true)...maybe the other rumors are true...I’m not saying they are, but if you think she’s as pure as the wind-driven Alaskan snow, you’re probably wrong.

[perfect_rovian_storm]

If only there was a vaccine to protect us from corrupt politicians like Rick Perry and we’d be much better off.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

A shot of reality about young womens health "......An immoral stand? Please. For all of you certain your daughters will wait until they are married to have sex, I hope they do. But get real. Studies show 42 percent of teen girls will have their first sex by age 18. Too many of them will contract a sexually transmitted disease in their first encounters. A 2009 study in the journal Pediatrics said 38 percent of 14-to-19-year-old girls who were sexually active contracted at least one of the five most common STDs.

That’s a frightening risk and not one to mine for a few votes. Stop apologizing for caring about girls, Rick Perry, and ride on, George Bush.

And to you politicians: Get back to arguing about taxes. At least no one gets hurt."

[PMAS]

Nicely done

[jwalsh07]

Public Policy by tear inducing anecdote? Years ago you would have been laughed off this site. And while my heart goes out to this young lady here are the facts.

4000 women die from cervical cancer each year in America. Acquiring cervical cancer before the age of 30 is very rare. Out of the 4000 that die from cervical cancer about 70% of the cancers were caused by the HPV virus resulting in 2800 deaths.

More kids drown in America every year. 3 times as many die from skin cancer.

If you don't like the odds of being one of the 2800 women who die in a population of 150 million females from this disease then make the choice to get the Gardasil innoculation and leave the rest of us the hell alone to make our own decisions without making requests from government.

[Outlaw Woman]

Valid points

[so_real]

People die from cancer ... it's true. But when the vaccine that purports to protect them from cancer kills or debilitates them ... there is a genuine problem.

Judicial Watch Investigates Side-Effects of HPV Vaccine

So many people uninformed people seem to think Bachmann invented this catastrophe on debate day Sep 2011. So many uninformed people seem to think this drug is 100% tested and safe. Do your homework FRiends. I agree that Bachmann's presentation was lacking -- but she is only trying to protect our youth from irreparable harm. As was Santorum -- but no one seems to be tossing him under the bus for it. The Bachmann-hate is the flip side of a Perry-love coin. It's a sham and I find it a bit disgusting.

[driftdiver]

“If she gets the vaccine before she starts kissing boys and such, she will almost surely avoid this deadly cancer.”

Speaking of ignorant nonsense.

[SoConPubbie]

Some 80% of women in America have HPV by age 50.

So this is something that ALMOST EVERYONE needs.

Proof of that statement?

[Spunky]

"She died from cervical cancer."

"She didn’t get a vaccine."

"What’s your point?"

Read my posting at #54.

[NoNAIS]

Individuals should read and research this issue for themselves.

Here is a place to start JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association):

The Risks and Benefits of HPV Vaccination

http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/302/7/795.full?home

Based on a few of the issues posed and the lack of circumstances that would lead to our daughters exposure at this time, we have chosen to bypass this vaccination. At the point that they can make the educated decision - they will.

The removal of Parental Rights to make a decision via Executive Order is the case in point. Yes - there was an opt-out. However from school district to school district the notification varied. Therefore some parents had no idea that opt-out was even an option.

In reality there are far more important issues to addres - as most FRpers know:

Economy, repeal of certain devastating Legislative processes, and wicker (the last is meant to lighten up the post - no wicker was damaged in the writing of this post.)

[perfect_rovian_storm]

Sarah isn’t the issue here. The issue is Rick Perry’s blatant and persistent record of corruption including his dealings with Merck on this Gardasil fiasco that you people are trying to cover up with puppy dogs and kitty cats.

[SoConPubbie]

Around 75% of the population carries HPV,, and it can be passed with a kiss. Even if a woman is a virgin bride, it’s more than likely she will be exposed to this virus that is a proven cause of one type of cancer. If she gets the vaccine before she starts kissing boys and such, she will almost surely avoid this deadly cancer. It’s ok to oppose a government mandate, but this mentality that HPV is some product of low morals is ignorant nonsense.

Proof?