What if you could prevent cancer before you ever have to find a cure for it?

In this episode, Therese Markow and Dr. Paul Sax discuss the preventative vaccines which can block cancer-causing infections. They break down the infections that cause cancer, how they can be transmitted, and encourage people to consider getting the vaccines either for themselves or for their children. Many of the vaccines are offered in childhood, such as for HPV, which can be received as early as age 9, and for Hepatitis B, which can be offered as early as birth. They discuss other infections, the benefits and side effects of vaccines, and stress risk-benefit communication between patients and their healthcare providers.

Key Takeaways:

• Some infections cause cancer- the best-known are HPV and Hepatitis B. Getting the vaccines that prevent infections occurring in childhood can then prevent the occurrence of cancer, which often doesn't happen until decades later.

• When people catch Hepatitis B in childhood, that is what causes cancer. When it is caught as an adult, it causes other issues, but not cancer.

• While some people may get side effects from vaccines, if you weigh the risks and benefits, almost always, the approved and recommended vaccines greatly favor getting the vaccine over not getting it.

"We spend enormous resources trying to cure cancer, and we should, but we have the opportunity to prevent these two virus-related cancers with our vaccine, and that's a great achievement of modern medicine, and we should take advantage of it." — Dr. Paul Sax

Connect with Dr. Paul Sax:

Professional Bio: https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/doctors/s/paul-sax-3001918

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/paul-sax-8a9431114

Connect with Therese:

Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net

Bluesky: @CriticallySpeaking.bsky.social

Instagram: @criticallyspeakingpodcast

Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net

Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.