Volume 5
September, 2006

Contents

Cervical Cancer Vaccine Available Now

David Nieman, PAC Wins Distinguished Medal

Meet the iPod Winner

Donkey Fundraiser

Reducing girls’ risk of cervical cancer starts in the preteen years

It’s a fact: Cervical cancer is the second-leading cancer killer of women worldwide. Researchers know that cervical cancer, along with genital warts and precancerous lesions, is caused by certain strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

There are over 100 strains of HPV, and about 30 of those are genital HPV strains. Several of those can cause cervical cancer. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) notes that one out of every two sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives. By age 50, at least 80 percent of women will have a genital HPV infection.

Until early this year, a woman’s only effective option for avoiding infection from HPV was sexual abstinence. Once a woman becomes sexually active, regular pap smears will reduce her chance of dying should she get cervical cancer.

The San Francisco Bay Guardian Online notes, “Women who live in developed countries where regular Pap smears are the norm are fairly well-protected because the test can detect precancerous cells that doctors can then remove. Still, in the United States, around 3,900 mostly lower-income women die of the disease each year.”

Now, with the approval of a new vaccine, young women have a powerful ally in preventing HPV infections and, ultimately, preventing cervical cancer.

“This is a revolutionary development. We now have a vaccine that can eliminate cervical cancer in a young girl’s lifetime, SFM Nurse Practitioner Cydne Marckmann, MN, ARNP, says.

Sound Family Medicine is among the first medical clinics in the nation to receive this new vaccine, Gardasil. It is effective in preventing infection by the two strains of HPV that are responsible for about 70% of cervical cancer in the US. The vaccine also prevents infection by the strains that cause genital warts.

Gardasil has been widely tested and it apparently causes few side effects. The USDA has approved it for girls and women between the ages of 9 and 26. Ideally, it should be administered to girls before they become sexually active, although it will provide at least partial coverage to women who have been exposed to other strains of the virus.

Markmann points out that the significance of this vaccine goes beyond cervical cancer. “It gives great hope that we may see vaccinations against other viral related illnesses like HIV and Herpes in the near future.”  

The vaccine, which is relatively expensive, requires three separate doses over a span of eight months for full protection. Some insurance companies will pay for it. Please talk to your health care provider the next time you come in for an appointment, or call our clinic if you wish to schedule an immunization earlier.

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One of SFM’s own Awarded National Honor

We are pleased to announce that, David Nieman, PAC, was inducted as a Distinguished Member of the 75th Ranger Regiment in Fort Benning, Georgia on June 29th. He spent over 15 years in the 2nd Ranger Battalion here at Fort Lewis as a Medic and their Battalion Physician’s Assistant. Mr. Nieman served multiple combat tours: one in Panama, one in Iraq and four tours in Afghanistan. Respectfully retiring from the service on March 1, 2006, Mr. Nieman became eligible for induction and was voted for this honor by peers and commanding officers. He is only the third Physician’s Assistant to be inducted since the formation of the Regiment. He now works for us at the Sound Family Medicine Sunrise Campus, and we are quite proud to have him with us.”

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iPod for Appointment

Congratulations to Sound Family Medicine patient April Rosenberg for winning an iPod in our Online Registration Contest. “I went online at 6:30 am to make an 8:30 am appointment with Doctor Pullen and was able to see him two hours latter. It was quick easy and convenient and I was even able to view my lab test results from my computer.”

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No Chance for the Playoffs
Donkeys’ Season Comes to a Close

First there is the darling child on your doorstep asking if you would like to buy a box of 12 cookies to raise money for her school, they’re only $11. Then there is the man calling you exactly in the middle of dinner time to ask if you would be interested in donating some money so that they can send each of America’s veterans a chicken; and who can help but forget the high school kids leaving flamingos in your yard and trying to tell you it’s a fundraiser. But have you ever heard of Donkey softball? Sound Family Medicine went head-to-head with Apple Physical Therapy in a grueling donkey softball game that ended in a tie of 3-3. But it raised over $1,200 dollars that was donated to the American Cancer Society. Now don’t be so skeptical about a game that had a total of six runs scored in a mere three innings. The two teams battled it out to the best of their abilities; the only problem was that they were attached to donkeys. Each team had their opportunities but hitting a home run in donkey softball doesn’t count if you can’t get your fury friend around the bases. After three innings of running, swinging and coaxing with carrots, the two teams agreed on the tie, owing to the fact that all of their plays where taking about 7 minutes each to complete. Now don’t ignore those other fundraisers because they are important too, just remember that next summer there will be an opportunity for you to donate a few dollars to saving peoples lives, and you’re able to watch your local doctors make, well fools of themselves.

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