Cervical Cancer

In the United States, in 2005 there were 7.5 new marriages per 1,000 people, and 3.6 divorces per 1,000, a ratio which has existed for many individual years since the 1960s. For the past generation, there has been a slight decrease in the divorce rate, with those of college educated people being only 20%.

Divorce is still a big issue in America though, as it leads to instability of the family. With the family unit deteriorating, several social consequences assure.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths for American women. This year, an estimated 180,000 Americans will be diagnosed with breast cancer -- 11,000 will be diagnosed with cervical cancer. Together, these two cancers are expected to claim the lives of more than 44,000 Americans in 2007.

Early detection allows early intervention and is the best way to increase the chance for survival. Mammograms and pap tests and other screening services can help doctors diagnose cancer before it has a chance to spread. When breast cancer or cervical cancer is caught early, the survival rate is more than 90 percent. Early detection makes treatment more effective, it gives hopes to patients, and it saves lives.

Gardisil was approved in August 2006 as a vaccine to protect against cervical cancer caused by HPV. The virus causes 70% of cervical cancers; therefore, the announcement of a vaccine to prevent this disease was applauded by many. Ten women a year die of cervical cancer, and one in four women in America are exposed to the HPV virus. Men can be carriers of the virus.

However, the religious right saw this vaccine as an approval for pre-marriage sexual activity, and has lobbied heavily against it. Therefore, although 23 states have laws pending a mandated vaccination, only one state has approved it: Virginia. Texas' Governor initially executed an order, but the Legislators, under pressure from the Religious lobbiest, enacted a law to forbid a mandate.