A vaccine to prevent cancer? It’s already here.

Cancer doesn’t discriminate. Neither does the human papillomavirus, known as HPV. Nearly everyone is exposed to HPV at some point in their lifetime if they have been sexually active. About 80 million Americans are currently infected.

Once you are diagnosed with HPV, no medications will get rid of it. In most cases, your immune system will likely clear the virus on its own. But if the virus persists in your body, it can lead to several types of cancer.

The best defense? A good offense: a cancer vaccine.

The HPV vaccine – It’s not just for girls

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first HPV vaccine in 2006 for adolescent girls to minimize the risk of cervical cancer, the most common HPV-related cancer. By 2010, the FDA extended vaccine approval to boys. Although only females can get cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancers, males can pass the virus to others and develop other HPV-related cancers, such as throat, penile and anal cancers. Moreover, almost all genital warts can be blamed on HPV.

Currently, there is one vaccine on the market (Gardasil) approved to shield children and adolescents against the nine most dangerous types of HPV. St. Jude joins the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and physician organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in recommending the vaccine for adolescent boys and girls to protect them against future HPV-related cancers and infections. However, the U.S. still lags behind other countries in HPV vaccination rates. Although all teens should receive the vaccine, fewer than half are up to date.

Staying cancer-free in survivorship

Cancer survivors have a higher risk for HPV cancers because they have weakened immune systems. In fact, a previous St. Jude study in PLOS One found childhood cancer survivors have up to a 150% greater risk than the general population for HPV-related cancers, particularly cancers of the head and neck.

Despite this increased risk, St. Jude researchers recently found survivors are less likely to receive the HPV vaccine than other adolescents. Why? Our study found even after treatment is over, survivors look to their doctors for medical recommendations. If the doctor fails to recommend the vaccine, survivors are less likely to start the series.

St. Jude is dedicated to doing all we can to help survivors stay cancer-free. That means our researchers test the HPV vaccine to ensure it is optimal for survivors and just as effective as it is for healthy adolescents. We encourage families to have a conversation with their child’s health care provider about the HPV vaccine. Ask questions and learn how HPV can affect survivor health.