ACSH staffers would like to offer a seat at the breakfast table to Alessandra Stanley. Her article in today s New York Times about the life of Farrah Fawcett had this important message concerning Ms. Fawcett s now ended struggle with anal cancer:
NBC, never shy about exploiting a celebrity tragedy, overproduced and overpromoted her film in 'Farrah s Story,' but never made the public service point that, besides abstinence, the HPV vaccine is the most promising form of prevention against this type of cancer, which in most cases is sexually acquired. Though we respect the tragedy of the situation, we are pleased that it can be tactfully used to deliver an important public health message.