U.S. Cancer Rates Dropping, But Not the HPV-Related

Human papillomavirus rate remains high, despite vaccine

The U.S. is making progress in controlling some cancerous tumors, but rates of human papillomavirus–related cancers remain stubbornly high. A new report shows lower rates in the U.S. for the most common cancers -- including lung, colon, anal, breast and prostate -- among all genders and racial and ethnic groups, but  rates of HPV-related cancers, like cervical cancer, are elevated. This, despite the fact that a vaccine (Gardasil) exists to prevent the viral infection that can trigger the disease. The CDC recommended that girls ages 11 to 12 be immunized against the sexually transmitted HPV before they became sexually active. And because the same virus that contributes to cervical cancer can also lead to anal and oral cancers, the CDC also proposed the shot for boys ages 11 to 12 years as well. (TIME)

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