Today in the House of Lords, Baroness Altman raised the question about getting boys immunised against HPV to protect them from developing HPV related cancers.
thanks for updating us on this very important move forward
Without getting too political, it strongly raises the question of equality, especially around common sense as opposed to cost benefit
for the government to have in place a HPV vaccination process on such a small group of males (which I can only assume is the minority) is but a rain drop in the ocean in an attempt to reduce oral cancers
Surely to role out such a process to the remaining larger group of males, would not only benefit those men, but many women too (as not all women have been vaccinated).... and thus by vaccinating this group of men you are indirectly protecting women, reducing the pool of people that could develope oral cancers, reducing the cost of cancer treatment and care on the NHS
Or am I missing something
ok I have no fiscal idea on how much it would take to role out such a programme on a large scale, but having had an oral cancer and having a 16 year old heterosexual son, it does not appear equal that I would have to pay £350 to vaccinate him, when there is already a government programme in place for a minority (my assumption) group of men
Sorry was not trying to get political so will climb down off of my soap box
i do apologise if I have offended anyone .... I have tried to be as pc as I can to get my point across.
No, you're spot on Vatch...it is an issue of equality.
Public Health England (according to their modelling) advised the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation that it was in fact borderline in terms of cost to protect boy. Now what that means in terms of cost...I don't know.
But what I do know and what you pointed out is that (not even factoring in the emotional impact) there would be a massive reduction in male HPV-related cancers, not tomorrow but in 10-20 years those vaccinated were protected and not having to facing gruelling treatment, which is a cost to the NHS in that time frame. I believe they have taken a short term view on the issue and saw the cost of vaccination programme now, not a a saving in the future.
The cost to the NHS (and this is all public knowledge), would be around £20 milliion a year. Which is what the NHS currently spends roughly every 90 minutes. Or something like 0.01% to their over all spending. But they need to conside the fact down the line that they would have healthly people walking about without an HPV related cancer and that that is resource freed up. I accept they may get something else.
A vaccination programme to the NHS would be about £20 per course to the NHS...if people want to it privately they can, i.e, you can get a vaccine at Boots or any other pharmacy for about £450. That makes it out of reach of most family. I don't want to live in a society where only health care is open to the priviledged few...that's not what our great NHS was built on.
This makes interesting reading,..and its quite short. Its the minutes from the last JCVI meeting in February past. All public knowledge, you can google JCVI.
Steph, thanks...it is fast becoming a big poilitcal debate, are rightly so. We have seen cervical cancers fall as a result over the last 10 years since the vaccination programme was introduced...and that is brilliant. Countries around the world who vaccinate girls to protect them from HPV and their related cancers are opening talking about erradicating conditions like cervical cancer...and I hope we do the same.
I hope we can also do the same for boys, but the current trends are showing increases in certain type of cancer for men. That's not right, when HPV cancer rates can be reduced from a simple, safe, vaccine.
As a 50 year old man who's just been diagnosed with HPV related tonsil cancer, I fully support immunisation for the next generation of young men and women.
Firstly hello. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I hope that it all goes okay for your. If there is anything I can answer for you, feel free to ask.
Thanks for the support of immunisation issues...it's something that we are very passionate about as a organisation. But also personally, I'm like you...just little over 50, but I'm a dad with a teenage boy....so I am keen to see him protected too.
Thanks for your reply and offer of help. The support really helps me at the moment.
It's interesting, the consultant who's going to be performing my operation also supports an immunisation program for girls and boys. He thinks it's ridiculous that the government is taking such a short-sighted attitude towards this.
Thanks a lot for your response and kind words. You've actually helped me quite a lot already, as I've been reading your WordPress blog about your own experience with cancer. I really appreciate your offer of help, if you don't mind, I'll probably take you up on that in the near future.
Strangely, they've not suggested radiotherapy or chemotherapy for me. They're going to operate, on my throat and neck in three weeks time. I must admit I'm a little bit concerned as they gave me the choice of radiotherapy or the operation, the surgeon however, leant towards the operation. To be honest, even though though the radiotherapy is horrible, I'd rather have that as well if it increases my chances of survival. I guess I'll just have to trust them to know what they are doing, and what's best for me.
im always around to listen and help in anyway, so shout whenever
there appear to be three differing ways to deal with this
1. Neck operation to take out cancer and lymph nodes
2. No operation, but chemo and radiation
3. Neck operation followed by chemo and radiation
I’m my experience of my own cancer and those I have met on my journey, I have listed the three above in an order of impact.....neither are easy.
it might be an idea to speak to your medical team about your concerns, if you can get away with just having the op, then go for it, but you won’t know until they do scans several weeks after.
