Telluride Med Center: Cancer Researcher Hosting Session, 12/11!

07 Dec Telluride Med Center: Cancer Researcher Hosting Session, 12/11!

On Dec. 11, at 6 p.m. the Telluride Regional Medical Center hosts a human papillomavirus (HPV) information session at the Wilkinson Public Library. The event is free and open to everyone, though organizers hope young people and parents will make prioritize the talk. For more information about the talk or to participate in either of the focus groups on Dec. 12, please contact tbusch@tellmed.org or visit tellmed.org.

Karen Winkelmann, CEO, Telluride Medical Center.

The Telluride Med Center’s upcoming human papillomavirus presentation will be given by leading global expert Dr. Deanna Kepka. She is director of the Intermountain West HPV Vaccination Coalition at Huntsman Cancer Institute.

Throughout Wednesday’s talk, Dr. Kepka will provide general information about the HPV infection and cancers related to HPV. She will also discuss the life-saving value of the vaccine.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 80 percent of individuals will get an HPV infection in their lifetime.

“However, there is an effective measure you can take to protect yourself and your children from certain cancers. The HPV vaccine is the only vaccine that can prevent cancer that affects both boys and girls,” said local nurse, Emily McGough, BSN, RN, CPN.

“If you’re under 26, or a parent of young children, please join us for this event,” said Dr. Kepka.

The Telluride Regional Medical Center is a designated “performance site” for intervention-based study by the Huntsman Cancer Institute. As such, the primary care team is looking to fill two focus groups on Thursday, December 12.

The first group is for survivors of breast, cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, or vulvar cancers; the second is for young adults (male and female) aged 18 – 26 year olds who have not received an HPV vaccine or do not know if they have received one.