Shockingly high number of Americans don’t realize this common STD can cause cancer

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Seven in ten Americans are unaware that one of the world’s most common STDs can trigger certain types of cancer.

A survey by researchers at Henry Ford Health in Detroit, Michigan, found that up to 72.6 percent of people were not aware that human papillomavirus (HPV) could lead to anal, oral and penile cancer in 2020. Three in ten also said they were unaware that it could cause cervical cancer.

The number who did not know that it could cause cervical cancer had also fallen seven percent since 2014, which the researchers highlighted as concerning.

They warned that the falling numbers were leading to ‘sub-optimal’ uptakes of the HPV vaccine, putting more people at risk of cancer.

The figures are especially concerning given that 43million Americans will catch HPV this year alone, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates. 

The above graph shows how many Americans said they were aware that HPV can cause the following cancers in 2014 and again in 2020. Knowledge of the link dropped across the board

The above graph shows how many Americans said they were aware that HPV can cause the following cancers in 2014 and again in 2020. Knowledge of the link dropped across the board

HPV is the most common STD in the United States, with about 43million people being infected every year — mostly in their 20s

HPV is the most common STD in the United States, with about 43million people being infected every year — mostly in their 20s

The survey results were presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research in Orlando, Florida, this week.

The HPV vaccine is currently offered to all Americans aged 11 to 12 years, administered as two doses six to 12 months apart.

It is also available as a three-dose course for people aged 15 to 26 years, with the first two doses given within two months of each other and the third six months later.

But data shows uptake is languishing well-below needed levels with barely 54.5 percent of 13 to 15-year-olds having got their shots.

This is below the target of 80 percent set by the government.

HPV is a common virus spread via vaginal, anal and oral sex with someone who is already infected.

Most infections go away on their own without causing any problems. But if an infection persists or causes changes to human cells, it can lead to certain types of cancer.

The CDC says HPV is behind more than 90 percent of cervical and anal cancers, about 70 percent of vaginal and gulvar cancers and 60 percent of penile cancers.

Dr Eric Adjei Boakye, an assistant scientist at Henry Ford Health Center in Detroit, Michigan, who led the research, said: ‘Over 90 percent of HPV-associated cancers could be prevented with the HPV vaccine, yet vaccine uptake remains sub-optimal.

‘Given the connections between HPV-associated cancer awareness and HPV vaccine uptake, it is important we increase the population’s awareness of this link, as it may help increase vaccine uptake.’

In the study, researchers used survey data from the Health Information National Trends Survey which regularly questions Americans on their attitudes towards cancer and its prevention.

They looked at data from seven years between 2014 and 2020, with a nationally-representative sample of 2,000 and 2,350 individuals surveyed each year.

Participants were asked: ‘Do you think HPV can cause i) anal; ii) cervical; iii) oral; and iv) penile cancers.’

They were able to respond with ‘yes’, ‘no’ or ‘not sure’.

Results showed that knowledge that any of these cancers could be caused by HPV dropped across the board during the seven years surveyed.

The drop was most stark for cervical cancer, where some 77.6 percent of participants were aware of the link in 2014. But by 2020, the latest date available, this had dipped to 70.2 percent.

For anal cancer, awareness of the link fell from 27.9 to 27.4 between 2014 and 2020.

For oral cancer, the dip was almost two percent, from 31.2 to 29.5 percent, and for penile cancer, there was also a near two percent dip, from 30.3 to 28.4.

This graph shows the percentage of adolescents aged 13 to 15 years who are up to date on their HPV vaccines. It is at 54.5 percent, despite the Government target being 80 percent

This graph shows the percentage of adolescents aged 13 to 15 years who are up to date on their HPV vaccines. It is at 54.5 percent, despite the Government target being 80 percent

The above shows the proportion of 13 to 15-year-olds who have received two or three doses of the HPV vaccine. Girls are more likely to have been inoculated than boys

The above shows the proportion of 13 to 15-year-olds who have received two or three doses of the HPV vaccine. Girls are more likely to have been inoculated than boys

Dr Boakye said declining awareness may be driven by funding being diverted away from campaigns advertising the risk to training doctors on how to promote and administer the vaccine.

He also said that the talk about the HPV vaccine had always been very ‘female-centric’, which may be why there was lower awareness that it could also cause cancer in men.

He added: ‘Research has shown a high degree of public trust in HPV information when received from healthcare providers.

‘Therefore, providers should use every clinical visit as an opportunity to educate patients about the causal link between HPV and HPV-associated cancers, and also about the cancer prevention benefits of the HPV vaccine.’ 

The study was presented at the AACR’s annual meeting held in Orlando, Florida, between April 14 and 19.



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