Father from Llantrisant urges young people to get HPV vaccine after daughter's death from cancer
Rhian Griffiths was diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of 22 in March 2010 and died aged 25 in June 2012. The vaccine wasn't available to Rhian but her father Wayne wants all young people - both boys and girls - to get a vaccination to protect themselves when offered.
Human papillomavirus is a common virus in the UK, and it is estimated that 8 out of 10 people will be infected with HPV at some point in their lives.
Most HPV infections don't show any symptoms and for most people the virus clears from the body naturally without causing any harm. But in some cases it can lead to cell changes that may develop into cancer.
Rhian who was a nursery teacher from Llantrisant received swift treatment after her diagnosis including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Despite her care, the cancer returned and Rhian passed away in 2012.
Wayne says that Rhian "battled stoically the horrible disease that she sustained over a two year period which culminated in her death in 2012.
"What if the vaccine for HPV had been around when she was that age, when she was in year 8 or year 9? She could be with us now. She was just unlucky that the tumour, the cancers that she had was resistant in the end and unfortunately it happens to a few people to say the least.
Wayne added "if she'd had that vaccine in year 8 or year 9 it might have saved her, we don't know do we, but it does save a lot of people from the ultimate diagnosis.
"You've got to grasp every opportunity to prevent cancer and it's a proven vaccine...it's made a vast difference to young people."
Since then her parents have raised, more than £1 million in memory of Rhian as part of the Rhian Griffiths Forget Me Not Fund. It supports funds for the Velindre Cancer Centre.
It comes as Public Health Wales is urging parents and guardians to make sure their children take up the offer of a HPV vaccine at school.
Chris Johnson, Head of the Vaccine Preventable Disease Programme at Public Health Wales, said: 'Most HPV infections don't show any symptoms and for most people, the virus will clear from the body naturally without causing harm. However, in some cases it can lead to cell changes that may develop into cancer, or cause genital warts.
'High-risk types of HPV are linked to cervical cancer, head and neck cancers, and other cancers of the genitals and anus.
'The HPV vaccine is a safe and highly effective single-dose vaccine that is offered to all children at 12 to 13 years of age, or school year 8. It provides long-lasting protection against HPV and the cancers it can cause.'
Some HPV-related cancers are more common in men than women, yet despite this, boys are less likely to get their HPV vaccine than girls.
At present the Welsh Government has a 90 per cent vaccination target rate with the vaccine being offered to all year 8 pupils and those who may have previously missed their vaccination.
Public Health Wales has said young people who don't attend school or have missed their HPV vaccination in school will have opportunities to receive the vaccine, either in school, community vaccination centres or through their GP.
Young people remain eligible to receive the HPV vaccine until their 25th birthday, although for boys this only includes those born after 1 September 2006.
Chris Johnson added: 'It's important that parents and guardians understand the benefits of the HPV vaccine and how it can help protect their children later in life.
"We're urging them to make sure their child takes up the vaccine when offered, to help protect them from HPV-related cancer in the future.'
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