Most people associate oral cancers, like mouth and throat cancers, with smoking, chewing tobacco or heavy drinking. However, 70 percent of oropharyngeal cancers in the United States — cancer that starts at the back of the tongue or the top of the throat — are actually caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infection in the country.
What Is Oropharyngeal Cancer?
The oropharynx is the back of your mouth and upper part of your throat, including the back one-third of your tongue, your tonsils, the soft palate and the tissues behind it. Cancer usually develops several years after HPV exposure, and may be concurrently linked to alcohol and tobacco usage.
Symptoms can include:
- Ear pain
- Hoarseness
- Pain when swallowing
- Sore throat that does not go away
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Unexplained weight loss
Can I Prevent HPV-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer?
Most HPV infections will go away on their own after a couple of years (although some people experience genital warts). It’s not yet known why some people with HPV develop oropharyngeal cancer, but an average of 13,500 people are diagnosed each year.
Oropharyngeal cancer can often have devastating results. Patients can lose part of their tongue or jaw, or lose the ability to taste or swallow solid food. It is important to catch the cancer as early as possible to minimize its effects.
HPV-related throat cancer can also be prevented with a vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends parents assist their children — both female and male — with getting the HPV vaccine between ages 9 and 12.
What Are the Pros and Cons of the HPV Vaccination?
The pros of getting the vaccine far outweigh any extra costs associated with potential cancer treatments. The HPV vaccine has also been proven to be safe and effective for more than a decade.
The major drawback to getting an HPV vaccine is that it requires more than one dose. Younger patients need two rounds of the vaccine six months apart. According to the CDC, children who start the HPV vaccine series on or after their 15th birthday need three doses given over 6 months to be fully protected.
Most of the side effects of the vaccine are minor and short-lived. They include:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Pain and swelling at the site of the shot
Men Need an HPV Vaccine, Too
It is a common myth that the HPV vaccine only benefits women. When the it was first released, the vaccine was marketed to prevent cervical cancer in young women. But men are at a higher risk of getting HPV-related throat cancer. The vaccine also prevents HPV-related anal and penile cancers.
Would the HPV Vaccine Benefit Me?
If you didn’t get an HPV vaccine when you were younger, whether because they weren’t available yet or because you didn’t know about it, it’s not too late. The CDC has changed its guidance to recommend the HPV vaccine for some people up to age 45, especially if you regularly have more than one sexual partner or have left a long-term relationship. The vaccine is not always as effective if you’ve previously been exposed to HPV. If you’re sexually active (or plan to be), you should consider an HPV vaccine.
If you are married, you may think you don’t need an HPV vaccine. But in cases of infidelity, you may not be protected. And oral HPV is more likely to affect older people.
Talk to your primary care doctor about whether the HPV vaccine is right for you later in life.
What if I Have or Think I Might Have HPV-Related Throat Cancer?
At UMMS, we treat cancer with the professional expertise and emotional support you need. Led by the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, the University of Maryland Cancer Network provides access to national experts, the latest treatments and promising clinical trials across the state. When you work with a UM Cancer Network cancer center, you can get the care you need at a community hospital close to home while benefiting from the connection to an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. We will work with you during and after an oropharyngeal cancer diagnosis to ensure your treatment plan is the best one for you and your family.
