Most people donât think about HPV until they hear itâs linked to cancer. But hereâs the truth: HPV is one of the most common viruses on the planet. Nearly everyone whoâs sexually active will get it at some point. The good news? Most of the time, your body clears it on its own. The bad news? When it sticks around, it can cause cancer - especially in the throat, anus, and cervix. And while cervical cancer rates have dropped thanks to screening, throat and anal cancers are rising - especially in men.
What HPV Cancers Are Actually Happening
HPV doesnât just cause cervical cancer. Itâs behind 91% of all anal cancers, 70% of throat cancers, and a big chunk of vaginal, vulvar, and penile cancers too. In the U.S., about 48,000 new HPV-related cancer cases show up every year. Thatâs more than 130 new cases every single day.
Throat cancer - specifically oropharyngeal cancer - is now the most common HPV-linked cancer in men. About 15,200 cases a year are tied to HPV. Thatâs more than twice the number of cervical cancers diagnosed in women each year. And itâs not just older men. Many cases show up in people in their 40s and 50s. These cancers often start with a lump in the neck, trouble swallowing, or a voice that doesnât go back to normal after a cold.
Anal cancer is less common, but itâs growing fast. About 4,300 cases happen each year, and 91% are HPV-driven. Itâs more common in men who have sex with men, people with weakened immune systems, and those with a history of anal warts. Symptoms? Bleeding, pain, itching, or a lump near the anus. People often ignore these signs, thinking itâs hemorrhoids. But if it doesnât go away in a few weeks, get it checked.
Why Are These Cancers Rising?
Itâs not random. The rise in throat and anal cancers is tied to how HPV spreads - and how little weâve done about it. HPV is passed through skin-to-skin contact during sex. Oral sex is a major route for throat cancers. Anal sex is the main way anal cancers spread. But unlike cervical cancer, thereâs no routine screening for throat or anal cancers. No Pap test. No easy way to catch it early.
That means prevention is everything. And prevention starts with vaccination. The HPV vaccine - Gardasil 9 - protects against nine types of HPV, including the two most dangerous: HPV 16 and 18. Together, these two cause 70% of cervical cancers and 85% of throat cancers. Gardasil 9 prevents about 90% of all HPV-related cancers.
But hereâs the problem: vaccination rates are still too low. Only 65% of teens in the U.S. have finished the full HPV vaccine series. Thatâs better than a few years ago, but itâs not enough. Experts say we need 80% coverage to stop most of these cancers. Right now, weâre falling short - especially for boys. Many parents still think HPV is only a âgirlâs problem.â Itâs not. Boys get throat and anal cancers too. And they pass the virus to partners.
How Vaccination Works - And Why Timing Matters
The HPV vaccine works best when given before anyone becomes sexually active. Thatâs why the CDC recommends it for kids at age 11 or 12. At that age, the immune system responds stronger, and two doses are enough. If you start after age 15, you need three doses.
But itâs not too late if youâre older. The vaccine is approved up to age 26 for everyone. For adults 27 to 45, itâs a shared decision with your doctor. If youâve never been vaccinated and youâre in that age group, talk to your provider. You might still benefit - especially if you havenât been exposed to many HPV types.
Real-world data backs this up. In Australia, where vaccination started early and widely, HPV infections in young women dropped by 80% in just 10 years. Cervical precancers fell by 85%. Throat cancer rates are expected to drop next - but only if boys are vaccinated too.
Some people worry the vaccine causes side effects. The truth? The most common side effect is a sore arm. Serious reactions are extremely rare - rarer than being struck by lightning. The vaccine has been given to over 300 million people worldwide. No long-term safety issues have ever been found.
Screening: What Works and What Doesnât
For cervical cancer, we have tools. Women between 25 and 65 should get a primary HPV test every five years. If thatâs not available, a Pap test every three years works too. Co-testing (HPV + Pap) every five years is also fine. These tests catch changes before they turn into cancer. Thatâs why cervical cancer rates have dropped 50% in the last 30 years.
But for throat and anal cancers? Thereâs no approved screening test. No routine swab. No blood test. No imaging that catches early signs. Thatâs why vaccination is your only real shield. Some clinics offer anal Pap tests for high-risk groups - like men who have sex with men or people with HIV. But itâs not standard, and itâs not perfect.
Thatâs why skipping the vaccine is like playing Russian roulette with your health. You canât screen for something if you donât know how to detect it. But you can stop the virus from ever getting in.
The Human Cost of Waiting
People who get HPV-related cancers often face brutal treatments. Throat cancer patients get radiation and chemo - sometimes both. Many lose their ability to swallow normally. Some need feeding tubes for months. Voice changes are permanent. One man in Seattle told me his voice is now a whisper. Heâs 48. He got vaccinated at 16. His brother, who didnât, got throat cancer at 42. Heâs still on a feeding tube.
Anal cancer treatment is just as tough. Surgery can mean a permanent colostomy. Radiation causes chronic pain and bowel issues. The average cost for treating throat cancer? Nearly $200,000. Even with insurance, many patients face $50,000 or more in out-of-pocket costs. Lost wages. Missed work. Emotional trauma. The stigma is real. People think, âI got this because I was careless.â But HPV is so common, 80% of adults have had it by 45. Most never knew.
What Can You Do Right Now?
Hereâs your action plan:
- If youâre under 26 - get the HPV vaccine. Two doses if you started before 15. Three if you started later.
- If youâre 27 to 45 - talk to your doctor. Ask if the vaccine could still help you.
- If youâre a parent - vaccinate your kids at 11 or 12. Donât wait. Donât wait for âthe right time.â There isnât one.
- If youâre a woman - get your HPV test every five years. Donât skip it because you feel fine.
- If you notice a lump, persistent sore throat, or anal bleeding - see a doctor. Donât assume itâs nothing.
Some clinics offer free or low-cost vaccines. Check with your local health department. Many schools now offer the vaccine too. You donât need a prescription. You donât need a referral. Just show up.
The Bigger Picture
HPV-related cancers are preventable. Not just treatable. Preventable. We have the tool. Weâve had it for over a decade. The only thing missing is the will - from parents, from providers, from policymakers.
When we vaccinate kids, weâre not just protecting them. Weâre protecting their future partners. Their children. Their grandchildren. One shot can stop a chain of cancer that could last generations.
Throat cancer isnât just âsmoking and drinking.â Anal cancer isnât just ârisky behavior.â HPV is a silent, common virus - and weâre the first generation with the power to make it vanish.
Itâs not about fear. Itâs about facts. And the facts say: vaccinate. Screen. Speak up.
Because the next time someone says, âI didnât know this could happen,â youâll know better.
Chris & Kara Cutler
January 31, 2026 AT 13:56Just got my kid vaccinated at 11. No debates. No waiting. Just did it. đĄď¸đ
Why wait until itâs too late? Iâd rather have a sore arm than a feeding tube.
Rachel Liew
February 1, 2026 AT 22:29i just learned that boys can get throat cancer from hpv too⌠i had no idea. my brother had it at 40. heâs okay now but it was rough. iâm gonna talk to my doc about getting the vaccine for my nephew. đŤ
Melissa Melville
February 2, 2026 AT 15:00So let me get this straight⌠we have a magic bullet that prevents 90% of these cancers, but parents are still scared because⌠âitâs for sexâ? đ¤Śââď¸
Next youâll tell me we shouldnât give flu shots because âviruses are naturalâ.
Bryan Coleman
February 3, 2026 AT 18:43anal pap tests exist but arenât widely available or covered by insurance. i got mine done after being hiv+ - itâs not perfect but itâs better than nothing. if youâre high risk, ask your clinic. no shame in asking.
franklin hillary
February 5, 2026 AT 14:34we are the first generation that can erase a whole class of cancer from human history
not reduce
not manage
ERASE
and weâre haggling over side effects like weâre choosing between two brands of toothpaste
what kind of legacy are we building here
Ishmael brown
February 6, 2026 AT 11:11so the vaccine works⌠but what if you already had hpv? is it useless? đ¤
also why does the gov only push it for teens? what about adults who never got it? đ¤ˇââď¸
June Richards
February 6, 2026 AT 21:57everyoneâs acting like this is some miracle cure but have you seen the price tag? $200+ per shot. not everyone can afford it. also, what about people who are already infected? are they just screwed? đ
Lu Gao
February 8, 2026 AT 03:34Actually, the CDC recommends the vaccine up to age 45 for those who havenât been fully vaccinated - not just âa shared decision.â Thatâs a common misstatement. Also, the vaccine doesnât âprevent infectionâ - it prevents persistent infection that leads to cancer. Precision matters.
vivian papadatu
February 9, 2026 AT 11:22My mom got cervical cancer in the 90s. We didnât have the vaccine then. Now I make sure my nieces and nephews get it on their 11th birthday. No excuses.
Itâs not just protection - itâs love in the form of a shot.
Deep Rank
February 11, 2026 AT 09:51you know whatâs worse than hpv? the medical industrial complex pushing vaccines for profit. i read a blog that said hpv is just a natural part of life and our bodies are designed to handle it. why are we forcing kids to take shots? maybe weâre creating more problems than we solve. also, i heard the vaccine causes infertility. is that true? đ¤
Naresh L
February 12, 2026 AT 00:43if we vaccinate children to prevent future disease, are we not also shaping their relationship with their own bodies? is prevention always ethical when itâs administered before consent? not that iâm against it - but we should ask deeper questions.
Sami Sahil
February 13, 2026 AT 22:10my cousin got the vaccine at 28 and said it was a game changer. heâs been with one partner since 20 and still got it. told me âbetter safe than sorryâ - and heâs right. just go get it. no stress. no drama. just do it đŞ