MDNews - South of Boston

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++ +++++++++++ +++++++++++ +++++++++++ +++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ THAT'SNEWS HPV VACCINE Also Recommended for Boys Nipple-Sparing Procedure CARRIES CANCER CONCERNS WOMEN WITH BREAST CANCER who choose to have their breasts removed have the option to undergo a nipple- sparing mastectomy (NSM) procedure, according to a new study. Surgeons at Georgetown University GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CAME to a consensus on recommend- ing the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil for boys between ages 11 and 21. The vaccine — currently administered to girls and young women — has been approved for males since 2009. Officials debated the cost effective- ness of giving boys the vaccine. The three-dose series, given over a six-month period, costs $120 per dose, and giving the vaccine to boys is estimated to cost $38 million overall. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 20 million Americans are infected with HPV, which can lead to cervical and other cancers. The vaccine is designed to help protect both girls and boys from the virus. A study by the Guttmacher Institute revealed that 13% of all 15-year-olds surveyed have had vaginal sex, with figures increasing to 70% by age 19. According to the CDC, the HPV vaccine is more effective when given to young teens before sexual activity begins. Controversy has sparked over the vaccine due to parents' fears that the vaccine could be dangerous, its effec- tiveness in preventing cervical cancer and whether government officials should require it for school-aged children. ■ Hospital reviewed records of women who received NSM to address the concern of whether cancer cells could still exist under the nipple and pose a threat. The findings conducted at Georgetown University Medical Center suggest that no cancer recurrences or new cancers occurred in women who had the procedure. The alternative concern of the procedure involved the nipple area not receiving enough blood. Researchers found cases where lack of blood flow to the nipple areola complex caused necrosis or tissue death — four cases requiring either partial removal of the areola and three involving total removal. Researchers concluded that a successful procedure depends on effective patient-selec- tion protocol, and they foresee a future in NSM yielding positive results. ■ Macular Degeneration Drug — Blindsided by Potential Side Effect AN INCREASE IN PRESSURE in the eye prompted concerns about a drug aimed to treat age-related macular degeneration. Ranibizumab (Lucentis), a U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved injection designed to treat patients suffering from progressive age-related blindness, was linked to an increase of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients of Sophie Bakri, M.D., a Mayo Clinic ophthalmologist. Two control groups — one group receiving the Lucentis injection and the other not receiving the injection — were evaluated during a two-year study to determine the drug's effectiveness in treating multiple forms of macular degeneration. The study did reveal an increase in IOP in patients who had received the injection, regardless of pre-existing risk factors, such as ocular hypertension and glaucoma. Dr. Bakri concluded that though it couldn't be ADVERTISERS' INDEX determined why the ranibizumab injection increases IOP, her findings suggested that IOP should be closely monitored in those receiving the treatment. ■ Keurig ......................... Inside Back Cover Kindred Hospitals ................Back Cover Southcoast Hospitals Group ...Inside Front Cover 18 | South of Boston MD NEWS ■ MDNEWS.COM

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