HPV Vaccine After Cancer: What Doctors Should Know

Have you heard that doctors sometimes recommend HPV vaccines to patients who already have HPV-related gynecologic cancers? This practice is quite common, but is it backed by solid evidence? Let's explore what the European Society of Gynecological Oncology (ESGO) has to say about it. Women who develop cervical, vaginal, or vulvar cancers linked to HPV may be more susceptible to new infections. Doctors might suggest HPV vaccines to reduce the risk of future HPV-related issues. However, the effectiveness of this approach isn't clear, especially for those who've already had cancer. Pre-cancerous disease treatment outcomes show promising results with HPV vaccines, but for full-blown gynecologic cancers, evidence is lacking. Studies reveal that the vaccine's effectiveness decreases with age. Doctors should know about their country's catch-up programs and counsel patients on the vaccine's efficacy based on age. The ESGO suggests that there's no solid evidence supporting HPV vaccination for patients with gynecologic cancers. They advise doctors to treat these patients like any other HPV-related non-gynecologic cancer or even non-cancer patients. The key is to consider the patient's age and prognosis. More research is urgently needed to understand if HPV vaccines benefit those with gynecologic cancers. Until then, doctors should discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks with their patients.