What's ironic about Michael Douglas' announcement yesterday that he contracted throat cancer from oral sex is that I had just watched, on Sunday night, Michael's latest movie, "Behind the Candelabra". His performance as Liberace, a beloved show-man and celebrity entertainer who was living as a closeted gay man, coupled with this stunning announcement, conjured up all kinds of sexual imagery and thoughts in my mind about the subject of oral sex. I could make a few crass jokes here, and say some things about the subject, but I won't because among all the imagery in my mind, there is one thing stands out the clearest.
Last fall Frack, my son, was at his annual check up and his doctor talked to me about immunizing him for the HPV virus, just like I had for my daughter Frick, two years before. I was a bit stunned and I might have laughed it off. After all, I thought HPV vaccinations were for girls and quite controversial, with the side effects and all. I had to think long and hard about the three-dose vaccine before I decided if it was right for her .She assured me that men need to be protected too and that this was a new area of concern for pediatrics. I said I would think about it and I pondered the idea of Frack complaining about getting a "girl" vaccine as a precaution. I then sort of decided it wasn't a priority and decided to revisit the subject this fall at his next checkup.
Today I don't feel that way.
Thanks to Michael Douglas, I don't feel that way at all. Today I'm seriously going to have a discussion with my son about cancer and HPV and then I'm going to have a discussion with Frack's pediatrician and book the appointment for the HPV vaccine.
Thanks Mr. Douglas. Seriously? No matter what images came to mind when you made your announcement, your courage in divulging this to the public may save countless lives. The awareness and your celebrity bring this subject into the spotlight and give ordinary people like me something to think about.
And thanks for helping me to make an informed decision to protect my son against a deadly form of cancer.
6 comments:
While it's important to protect your kids, his announcement gave me the feeling that he has self serving motives or is trying to cover something up.
Protecting your kids against any type of disease is important as a parent. I think that today's youth has a much more casual attitude towards sex than we had back when. I also know that young dudes will do anything, I say again ANYTHING, when the sexual urge hits.
Good for you for having the talk and getting the protection.
All that said, I just can't get the image of 67 year old Mr Douglas going down out of my damn brain pan now...
Good for you to book the appointment. I rarely think about it I have worked in companies developing drugs and in academia with those pushing research into both causes and effects of all kinds of conditions normally if it is recommended it IS a good idea.
I bet your readership goes up with the title but if one more makes that call that will be good.
damn you, woman!
i almost broke my mouse-finger trying to click to get here as fast as i could!
I had my daughter vaccinated a few years ago but only just recently heard that boys should have the shots too. I, too, thought of it as if it were a girl vaccine.
I didn't realize that HPV was gender specific. I always wondered why if it could stop females from getting it why not guys. Both transmit the damn thing if they get infected.
Michael Douglas & I have something in common and it ain't throat cancer or HPV but...
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