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BROWN COUNTY, WIS. (WBAY) – According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more and more people can now be vaccinated against more than 3,300 men and women against the virus that causes cancer.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is being offered to a broader age group. The FDA has now approved the 27-45 adult vaccine.
HPV has been associated with several cancers.
"One virus has been linked to several different conditions, including cervical cancer and many other types of cancer," said Kim Shefchik, medical assistant at Bellin Health Generations.
Shefchik says that doctors have seen an increase in the number of cases of cervical cancer, vaginal vulvar cancer, anus cancer and cancer of the head and neck. HPV can also cause genital warts.
The virus is transmitted mainly through sexual contact. It can also be transmitted by genital-skin contact.
The CDC says that 80 million Americans have been infected with HPV.
"This means it's the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease in the United States," says Dr. Robert DeFatta, facial plastic surgeon at DeFatta ENT.
A vaccine can protect against these cancers caused by HPV.
"The one we use is called Gardisil 9 and covers nine different strains of the virus and, by and large, the strains most likely to cause serious problems," Shefchik said. "Obviously, cancer is the most serious, so cancer of the cervix of the uterus, vagina, vulva, cancer of the anus in men and women and genital warts . "
Vaccines work best before anyone is exposed. The HPV vaccine has therefore been approved only for minors and young adults aged 9 to 26 years.
New data show an effective rate of 88% among women over 26 years old. The FDA has therefore decided to expand the age limit.
Doctors say that HPV does not affect women. Men are also diagnosed with cancers related to the virus.
"Oropharyngeal cancer has increased by at least 300% in men over the last 40 years, and 70 to 90% is positive for HPV," says Dr. DeFatta.
DeFatta says HPV-related head and neck cancers will surpass HPV-positive cervical cancers by 2020.
At this time, HPV is so widespread that it will take time for the numbers to change.
"If every American eligible to receive the vaccine received it next year, it will take 20 to 30 years to reverse the increasing rate of oropharyngeal cancers in men who will be affected during this group of patients." Age, "says DeFatta.
CDCs still need to consider the expanded vaccine group.
"We do not have CDC results yet, for example, which result in insurance coverage," Shefchik said.
Click on the link attached to this article for more information on HPV.
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