RTL presenter Steffi Brung fights hatred after diagnosis of cancer!

RTL presenter Steffi Brung fights hatred after diagnosis of cancer!

Deutschland - Steffi Brungs, 36 years old and RTL presenter, recently spoke publicly about her diagnosis of cervical cancer. She received this shocking news five years ago shortly after her wedding. The reactions to their openness were mostly positive, but there were also hurtful and sexist comments. For example, she was accused that she was to blame for the disease because she had "had too many sex partners", or the use of condoms was indicated as a solution.

brung countered these attacks and emphasized the importance of education about the human papillomavirus (HPV) and the associated cancer risks. In her Instagram story, she made it clear that HPV infections are widespread and are not necessarily connected to a "risky lifestyle". She pointed out that Safer sex is important, but a condom does not adequately protect against HPV infections, which can also be transmitted through skin contact. Vaccinations play a central role in the fight against HPV.

The fight against cervical cancer

In the context of Brung's personal experience, the global challenge is to eliminate cervical cancer. According to the WHO website, elimination in the European region could be an achievable goal. Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, the WHO regional director for Europe, emphasizes the importance of HPV vaccinations to protect future generations. At the moment, 47 out of 53 countries in this region offer vaccinations against HPV for girls, with countries such as Kazakhstan and Kosovo have also been integrated into these programs since 2024.

It can be seen that Portugal has already had a vaccination rate of over 90 % in girls since the vaccination was introduced in 2008. Although vaccinations for boys and girls have a slight increase, the need to eliminate obstacles to vaccinations and preventive examinations is more urgent than ever. Every year, around 60,000 women develop cervical cancer in Europe, of which over 32,000 die.

Scientific basis and vaccination campaigns

The around 500 million doses of HPV vaccines worldwide have proven to be safe and effective. Crayening HPV types can cause malignant changes decades after an infection, which is why early detection and vaccination campaigns are of essential importance. The first HPV vaccines were ready for market in 2006 and recommended for girls since 2007. From 2018 this recommendation was also extended to boys.

According to the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the current vaccination rates in Germany are behind expectations. In 2021, only about 50 % of girls and less than 30 % of boys aged 15 years were fully vaccinated. Despite the proven effectiveness of the vaccines and the proof that serious side effects occur very rarely, the clarification and a broader acceptance of the vaccination campaigns are of the highest priority.

Steffi Brung uses your platform to question such myths and reduce stigmata. Their commitment shows how important social education is to raise awareness of HPV and its risks. This not only wants to give those affected a voice, but also help to ensure that such diseases occur less frequently in the future.

oe24.at , Health Research BMBF .