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HPV vaccine

New Study Emphasizes The Importance Of Men And Boys Getting The HPV Vaccine 

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The HPV vaccine is widely known, and has been historically framed, as protection against cervical cancer in women. Now, according to a large new study published in JAMA Oncology, young men and boys who received the human papilloma virus, HPV, vaccine had around half the risk of developing related cancers compared to those who were unvaccinated. 

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The study wants parents of both young men and women to do the research to learn more about what HPV is in general, the cancers it’s linked to, and the benefits of the vaccine. 

CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and adjunct associate professor at George Washington University who was previously Baltimore’s health commissioner, recently spoke to the publication regarding this new study. 

“HPV is an extremely common virus transmitted through intimate skin-to-skin contact. The vast majority of those who are sexually active will be exposed to it at some point in their lives.”

“This applies to both men and women. According to the National Cancer Institute, nearly all sexually active people are infected with HPV within months to a few years of starting sexual activity,” Dr. Wen explained to CNN. 

“About half of these infections are with a high-risk HPV type that increases the likelihood of developing cancers. Most infections go away on their own as the immune system clears them, but some persist and can cause cellular changes that can become cancerous over time.”

Wen explained that HPV is linked to a range of cancers in both men and women. In women, it’s most commonly linked to cervical cancer, but it can also cause other cancers in the vagina and vulva. In men, HPV is linked to cancers of the penis, anus, head, and neck. 

“Over 90% of anal cancer is caused by HPV. Oropharyngeal cancer, also called throat cancer, is highly associated with HPV as well, with about 70% attributed to HPV. And more than 60% of penile cancer is caused by HPV,” Wen pointed out. 

The study that Wen is citing utilized a global database of over 615,000 men aged 9 to 26 who received the nonvalent HPV vaccine and over 2 million who did not. The researchers analyzed about half a million individuals from each group that were concluded to be comparable. 

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“They found that men who were vaccinated had a significantly lower risk of developing HPV-related cancers. Overall, vaccination was associated with about a 46% reduction in risk, meaning those who received the vaccine had roughly half the risk compared with those who were unvaccinated,” Wen said. 

“The benefit was seen across different groups studied. Those vaccinated between ages 9 and 14 had about a 42% lower risk, while those vaccinated between 15 and 26 had about a 50% lower risk.”

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends routine vaccination of preteens at 11 or 12-years-old. The HPV vaccine can be given at the same time as other vaccines. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends routine HPV vaccination for all adolescents starting between 9 and 12-years-old. Getting your children vaccinated during their earlier years “focuses on the goal to vaccinate before any exposure to HPV occurs.

According to the AAP, there is no known downside to starting HPV vaccinations early. The immune response is strong at younger ages, and there has not been evidence of significant waning protection,” Wen cited. 

To parents who may be skeptical, Wen emphasized the importance of speaking with their medical provider, but also that the main component of this vaccine is its ability to prevent cancer later in life. 

“This vaccine is about preventing cancer. It protects against infections that can lead to serious disease many years later. We now have strong evidence that it benefits everyone. The safety profile of the vaccine is well-established, and the effectiveness in preventing HPV-related disease is very high. As a mom of two children, choosing vaccination is an opportunity to reduce the risk of serious illness for our children in the future.”

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James Van Der Beek Remembered By Hollywood, Donations Made To Fundraiser For Family

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James Van Der Beek unfortunately passed away this week after being diagnosed with cancer in 2023. The actor is known for playing multiple notable roles, one of his most recognized being Dawson Leery in Dawson’s Creek, the 90s teen soap that made him a household name. 

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Actors, directors, and colleagues all throughout Hollywood have posted tributes to Van Der Beek while promoting and donating to his foundation to help his wife Kimberly and their six children. 

Film director Steven Spielberg has donated $25,000 to a crowdfunder to help his family. In Dawson’s Creek, Van Der Beek’s character idolized Speilberg, as he was based on the show’s creator Kevin Williamson, who is also known for writing famous horror-comedy Scream and other films within the franchise. 

Spielberg was also a contributor to a Dawson’s Creek reunion in September which helped raise funds for F**k Cancer and Van Der Beek’s medical treatments. He sent in a video message saying:

“Dawson, you made it. Maybe someday, I will get to have a Dawson’s closet.”

Van Der Beek was unfortunately too sick to attend the event in person, but also sent a video message. In December, he auctioned off memorabilia from the show as well to help pay for his medical bills. This included some of the iconic bedroom props that showed off Dawson’s love for Spielberg. 

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Donations to the GoFundMe for Van Der Beek’s family has now surpassed $2 million, prompting them to release a thankful and loving message: 

“Your kindness has meant more than we can put into words. In the middle of deep grief, your support has been a light. It reminds us that love is real, that community is strong, and that Jame’s spirit continues to bring people together.”

Others also donated to the fund including Zoe Saldaña, who pledged a monthly stipend of $2,500, Wicked director Jon M Chu who donated $10,000, and both Cameo co-founder Martin Blencowe and talent agency Guy Oseary. 

Additionally, according to the Guardian, OpenAI CEO Fidji Simo has donated $5,000 as well as director Ellie Kanner. Danielle Marquez Levinson, wife of film producer Stephen Levinson, gave $10,000, and fashion designer Tracy Robbins and talent agent Kevin Huvane both donated $5,000.

Some top donors also remained anonymous with one giving $30,000 and another pledging $5,000 monthly. 

Guardant Health gave $25,000. Van Der Beek was the first brand ambassador for their new blood test for colorectal cancer screenings. 

“His voice and advocacy will leave a lasting mark on the fight against colorectal cancer,” a spokesperson wrote on the GoFundMe page.

Football 2

NFL Players Support ‘My Cause My Cleats’

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Charities are always looking for donations and hoping to catch the eye of someone or something huge that they can benefit from; and the My Cause My Cleats program is no different. Currently in its fourth year, My Cause My Cleats have several causes including health and wellness, initiatives focused on younger NFL supporters, as well as raising cancer awareness. In week 14 of the National Football League, over 900 players wore boots specifically created to help raise awareness for the charity.

For example, Aaron Rodgers, quarterback for the Green Bay Packers is a huge supporter of the North Valley Community Foundation, working towards aiding those affected by the wildfires in his native Northern California.

“Last year, when the camp fire happened, I immediately got in touch with some close friends there, the mayor of Chico, and just looked into what the need was and where my money could best be spent. After talking with the North Valley Community Foundation a number of times, I felt really good about what they’re all about. They’ve raised almost $100 million, which is unbelievable. It’s been a lot of small donations and then a lot of really big ones from across the country and north state [Northern California].”

They’ve done some amazing things such as helping to rebuild Paradise, just the area, and make sure that all the programs that need funding are funded. So team members are wearing cleats that have a lot of emblems and words associated with northern California and Paradise and California Fire, Paradise Strong.

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“There’s still individuals who are waiting for help as well. The awareness of it needs to stay up because this is a 10-to-15-year rebuild for an area that I called home for a number of years growing up … I was born there. We moved back. I lived there for a few off-seasons, as well, in Chico, which is 10 minutes from Paradise, and I knew a lot of people who had family and friends up there.”

Many of the players have worked alongside The Shoe Surgeon, ensuring their boots have the customized designs they specifically wanted. Los Angeles Rams player Todd Gurley and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott both had their shoes custom made by the designer, alongside Rodgers. Prescott has concentrated on his own charity – The Faith, Fight, Finish Foundation – a charity that works to help fight cancer as well as supporting people with life-challenging issues. While Gurley has opted for M.A.D.E. SPORTS who work with children through sport, encouraging them to understand the difference they can make to society.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has San Francisco’s defensive lineman Solomon Thomas in their corner, who takes part in their Out of Darkness Walk, raising much needed money for AFSP. Thomas comments:

“I lost one of the most important people in my world to suicide earlier this year. I will be walking for her and for everyone who suffers from the pain she felt. Ella was my sister. Ella was my best friend. She loved harder than she could breathe. She filled a room with such a strong presence that it would light up the room. She made my life go…”

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“Having Ella as my sister was the greatest gift this life has given me. She taught me to be myself, to make everyone feel loved, to appreciate everything in front of me, and so much more. She was so perceptive and so compassionate. I will live every day for my amazing sister.”

Many players throughout NFL believe My Cause My Cleats is possibly the program that their supporters can connect the most with, with Philadelphia Eagles star Rodney McLeod stating:

“I think it’s great and important that the NFL encourages players to participate in My Cause My Cleats. It is imperative that we get to express our philanthropic endeavors. The causes I’ve chosen are so important to me, and likewise, the causes represented across the league this week mean so much to a lot of us players and define who we are as men off the field.”

The Student Health Impact Project (SHIP) is one of McLeod’s causes and a few months ago he went to the Olney Charter High School in Philadelphia to open a comprehensive student health and wellness center as part of his ‘Healthy Attitude Campaign’. The center is central to the students’ well-being and ‘will have an immediate, positive effect on the students as well as its surrounding community.’

There is also the option of the players auctioning off their cleats at the NFL Auction where 100 per cent of the funds raised getting donated to all the charities the players have selected.