Most of the vaccines in our modern lives are built for the prevention of unpleasant things: flu. Mumps. Chicken pox. Rubella.
Other vaccines are created to protect you from more serious diseases such as measles and polio.
And at least one is designed to protect you from several types of cancer, any of which is likely to be fatal without vigilant screening and aggressive care.
That’s the HPV vaccine.
Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of vaccinating against a so-called STD, especially when the patients in question are well in advance of their sexual years. But here’s what the CDC says about why everyone – boys too – should be getting this vaccine:
Girls aren’t the only ones affected by HPV, also known as human papillomavirus. HPV is common in both males and females. Every year, over 9,000 males are affected by cancers caused by HPV infections that don’t go away. HPV can cause cancers of the anus, mouth/throat (oropharynx), and penis in males.
Cases of anal cancer and cancers of the mouth/throat are on the rise. In fact, if current trends continue, the annual number of cancers of the mouth/throat attributed to HPV is expected to surpass the annual number of cervical cancers by 2020.
Many of the cancers caused by HPV infection could be prevented by HPV vaccination.
We don’t have vaccines for many cancers, and we don’t have perfect protection for anything at all. But getting suited up against deadly diseases is a wise choice when you are a member of a close-knit society. And the HPV vaccine is holding steady as of 2016 as one of the most potent tools in our cancer-fighting arsenal.
Contact us today to learn more.
