Sadly, Heather Burcham, a woman with cervical cancer who fought tirelessly to make the cervical cancer vaccine mandatory for girls in the state of Texas, has died. She was 31 years old. The fight for a mandated cervical cancer vaccine was one that was ultimately lost in her lifetime, when the Texas legislature overturned Governor Rick Perry’s executive order to require it in May.
Burcham once said: “If I could help one child, take this cancer away from one child, it would mean the world to me. If they knew what I was going through, how incredibly painful that this was … then I feel like I’ve done my job as a human on this earth.”
May she rest in peace.
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As a researcher who works with HPV, I am absolutely horrified at the backlash that this vaccine has elicited. I think that people are so anti-vaccine people because they have the erroneous belief that HPV causes a type of cancer that *only* kills women. Since the patriarchy doesn’t value women, it certainly doesn’t give a damn about protecting girls against cancer.
What people don’t realize is that HPV has been linked to other types of cancers, the valuable types–that is, the types that kill men.
If I had a daughter–or a son, for that matter–I’d have her or him vaccinated. Period. What kind of person doesn’t want to save someone–anyone–from dying of cancer?
mandatory vaccinations for HPV and numerous other infections (and/or disease causing agents) is ludicrous. A lot of the backlash has been from insanely religious groups, but a great deal of the “backlash”is legitimate concern. THe vaccine is a cash cow not a saviour. It protects against only a few strains of the HPV, and while that is great, making it mandatory is not. So, I guess I am the type of person who would not agree with the constant vaccination regime. Did you know that the vaccine needs a booster? Who pays for these mandatory vaccines? Why don’t you do some research before blindly thinking that this is a good vaccine that helps out women? Yes, it can help, but not in the way many present is – especially not the pharmaceutical companyies who are advertising it everywhere.
I have thought about it, Heather, but thanks for assuming that I haven’t, and that I don’t know about the opposition to the vaccine.
The vaccine protects against the most common AND the most dangerous strains of HPV– 90% of the strains that cause genital warts, and two types that cause 70% of cervical cancer (not all cervical cancer is caused by HPV).
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/sexual-health/std/hpv.htm
Also, I think that the national health care system that the U.S. doesn’t have should pay for it.
I am so sorry that Heather is gone. 31 is so young. I had cancer at age 19 and I was completely thrown off by the diagnosis, as I guess we all are – at any age. Peace
I am horrified by what people are saying about money!
I mean which is more important saving others or money?
I guess our goverment really does enjoy killing people. They spend all this money to kill people in other countries, but they can’t spare some to save lives in their own country.
I may only be 14, and not know much about these medical terms or w.e.
But I mean I was -somehow- related to this woman and i am proud of it.
Ok so what i read was something like there are some that it cant prevent or soemthing along those lines?
Well, what if the one that some girl gets in Texas is one of the ones that it could have prevented? Wouldn’t you feel bad if she died and you could have did something about? I know i would. So, I think it is so stupid that you people are so selfish that you would let a person suffer like that because it cost money.
Money that is just going to kill people.
I hope you feel happy.
Our government needs to focus on saving people here more, because it seems like al they care about is the war and winning it and not giving one bit about the people over here.
I mean they should offer the kids in the school a chance to get it and let their parents decide if the take it or not.
This is just what my opinion is.
your approval is not needed.
Thank you.
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