Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

HPV is a common virus that can cause six types of cancer.  Vaccination can prevent up to 90% of these cancers.

This cancer prevention vaccine is safe, effective, and has been FDA-approved since 2006. The HPV vaccine is so safe and effective, Scotland recently reported no cervical cancer diagnoses in women who were fully vaccinated “on time” (by age 13). Australia’s goal is to be the first country to eliminate cervical cancer by 2035; they are vaccinating boys and girls.

In America, oropharyngeal (base of the tongue and middle part of the throat) cancer is on the rise. Between 2015–2019, oropharyngeal cancer rates increased in American men at three times the rate of American women.

Reducing the Burden of Oropharyngeal Cancer in Oregon

While cervical cancer rates are decreasing due to a high vaccination rate in girls/young women (we see an average of 145 cases a year), oropharyngeal cancer rates in Oregon are rising to an average of 656 cases a year. New cases of oropharyngeal cancer in Oregon are higher than the national average. Oregonian men account for more new cases (470) than women (186).

Effective prevention strategies for oropharyngeal cancer include HPV vaccination (70% of oropharyngeal cancers are HPV-related) and substance use prevention or cessation. Community Cancer Control Specialists, in collaboration with the OHSU School of Dentistry and Boost Oregon, are providing training, continuing education, and technical assistance to dental providers, community health workers, and local public health agencies/community-based organizations on strategies to address oropharyngeal cancer. These include HPV vaccination as cancer prevention, tobacco and betel quid cessation programming, and recognizing and addressing symptoms of oropharyngeal cancers.

Youth HPV Champions

Youth HPV Champions is a student-led initiative sponsored by OHSU Knight Cancer Institute’s Community Outreach and Engagement team. Youth champions aim to increase awareness of HPV prevention among their peers within their school chapters, school communities, neighborhoods, and other activities or related interest groups. Youth HPV Champions seek to not only normalize but also encourage discussions about HPV to contribute to the global effort in eliminating HPV infections, and thus, the global cancer burden for future generations.