Social Conservative Control Cervical Cancer Debate

Florida House Republicans shied away from Ed Homan's bill that would make mandatory vaccine shots for human papillomavirus. This is one of the causes of cervical cancer. Condoms can reduce risks by 70 percent. The Christian Right will continue to have the GOP push the failed policy of abstinence.

House Republicans argued if the vaccine is safe. The Food and Drug Administration has already approved the vaccine.

The vaccine, called Gardisil and developed by Merck & Co., was approved for girls and women ages 9 and 26. It is most useful if given to younger girls, because the vaccine is ineffective once the virus -- which is very common among sexually active people -- is already present.

The prospect of young girls receiving the vaccine has disturbed some social conservatives, who adamantly oppose efforts to make the vaccination mandatory. They say that sexual abstinence is the best way to avoid getting the virus.

But women's and public health groups are pressing hard for early and mandatory vaccinations, saying they will potentially save thousands of lives.

There is more concern about keep the social conservative base happy than preventing cancer. Michelle Halderman has tested positive for the HPV strains. She gave a powerful speech to the Florida House that cut to the heart of the matter.

"If this were a vaccine that could possible prevent breast cancer, prostate cancer or lung cancer, would here be any hesitancy? Would anyone even think of voting against that vaccine?" the 39-year-old Tallahassee resident asked the council. "Cancer is cancer. And cancer kills."

How many young women could be safed if one political party didn't pander to a small fringe of people.

John & Elizabeth Press Conference

These are amazingly strong and courageous people. I try to imagine if I could be this calm about cancer when the whole country is watching. Since I have never been in that position I can't answer that. If I was I hope I could handle it with half the grace of Elizabeth Edwards.

John Edwards talks about how if someone wants to be President they have to deal with horrible things and face the pressure. If not he or she can't be President. Dealing with his wife having breast cancer and the lack of privacy about her condition certainly is pressure.

Fortunately, breast cancer is treatable. One of the interesting things is how gracefully both the lefty and righty blogosphere has behaved during the announcement. The finest moment was Andrew Sullivan's blog post. It got Shakes choked up.

What I saw in this press conference was the reality of family values - not the rhetoric, not the divisiveness, not the politics, just the reality of an actual family dealing with real issues. We all face such issues. Cancer survivors and their families know it all too well. So do those of us who live with HIV, diabetes, Parkinsons and many other diseases that patients can now live with, rather than die from. In this, John Edwards is doing a public service. He was admirably candid about his wife's cancer being treatable, if not curable. That paradigm is increasingly common - and it's affirming to see someone in public life live through it so positively, so admirably and so passionately. She shouldn't give in to it. One key to surviving serious illness is to live positively and candidly while you treat it. With HIV, I learned to repeat to myself a triad that was essential to surviving any serious medical condition: Own it, face it, beat it. That's what the Edwardses did today, and they will help a lot of people through their example.

Donate to the Breast Cancer Fund and Breast Cancer Research Foundation on behave of Elizabeth Edwards.

John Edwards Letter To Supporters

John Edwards has sent out a letter to supporters about his wife Elizabeth's breast cancer.

***

Dear Friend,

Elizabeth and I are so grateful for your prayers and wishes. Your support means a great deal to us during this difficult time.

As you may have heard, yesterday we found out that Elizabeth's breast cancer is back, but confined mainly to her bones. Although this isn't the news we wanted to hear, we are very optimistic. Having been through many struggles together in the past, we know that the key is to keep your head up, keep moving and be strong. And that's exactly what we intend to do.

Elizabeth and I have been married for nearly 30 years and we will be in this every step of the way together. We will keep a positive attitude and always look for the silver lining—that's what we do.

Although the cancer is no longer curable, it is treatable, and many patients in similar circumstances have lived full, energetic lives. We expect nothing less for Elizabeth. She expects to do all the things next week that she did last week.

Our campaign goes on and it goes on strongly. We are so proud of the campaign we are running—a campaign based on ideas and reaching out to people. This campaign is not about me or Elizabeth—it's about all the people we have met these past few years and people like them all across America and the world—people worried about feeding and clothing their kids; people without health care; people facing hardships overseas.

Both of us are committed to this campaign. We're committed to this cause and we're committed to changing this country we love so much.

Thank you again for your support and for standing with us.

John Edwards