The Link Between HPV and Cancer
- An Ohio man, 57, lived with a lump on his neck for roughly five months thinking it was from a sinus infection. However, a doctor's visit revealed he had swollen lymph nodes because of tongue cancer caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
- The human papillomavirus or HPV is a group of more than 200 related viruses, some of which are spread through vaginal, anal, or oral sex, according to the National Cancer Institute. It can cause a handful of cancers, including cervical and throat cancers.
- HPV-related throat cancers are generally very responsive to a combination of radiation and chemotherapy treatments.
- The HPV vaccine like Gardasil 9 offers protection against "nine HPV types" and creates an immune response to HPV 16 the primary cause of 92% of head and neck cancers.
When an Ohio man, 57, who was familiar with sinus issues found a lump on his neck, he thought it might just be swollen lymph nodes from his condition. But it turned out to be because of tongue cancer, and his situation highlights the importance of knowing about the human papillomavirus (HPV) and the risk of cancer that comes with contracting it.
"I'd never heard of HPV to be quite honest…I was a little surprised," Gleen Moog told "Today" in an interview.
Read More"She felt it and said, 'Now, I don't like the way this feels. You need to get a scan right away," Moog recalled.
At the time the father of two admitted he was scared and felt "helpless." Scans revealed the swollen lymph node was due to stage 4 tongue cancer. He learned HPV caused the cancer on the base of his tongue.
"(My cancer doctors) were saying, 'We caught this fairly early. It's a slow-growing cancer. If you get this treatment, we have a high success rate,'" Moog explained.
His prognosis left him feeling more optimistic heading into treatment, which involved radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams such as X-rays aimed at cancer cells to kill them.
Moog's treatment plan included 35 rounds of radiation and five rounds of chemotherapy for seven weeks. The side effects of treatment left an impact on him.
"I thought I would be able to continue to eat and function, and I was literally put on the couch for six to eight months," he described.
"As I kept getting more radiation, I just kept burning my throat more and I kept eating less. And then finally they were like, 'You're losing too much weight too quickly,'" he continued.
Moog had to get a feeding tube to help him eat because he was unable to swallow.
A feeding tube helps people get the nutrition they aren't getting through regular food. It's a flexible tube that's "inserted through the nose or belly area to provide nutrients by delivering liquid nutrition directly into the stomach or small intestine," according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Fortunately for Moog, he was able to make it through cancer treatment and he said he's now "cancer free."
"I'm happy to be alive," he added.
More on HPV
- ‘Controversial’ HPV Vaccine Shown to be Highly Effective in Wiping Out Cervical Cancer
- ‘People Need to Know That HPV Can Cause These Cancers’: Survivor Pushes for HPV Vaccine Education
- A Major New Effort Announced to Vaccinate Young Boys Against HPV and Cancers Linked to Sex
- A Reminder About HPV-Linked Cancers From Survivor & ‘Desperate Housewives’ Actress Marcia Cross
- Breaking: HPV Vaccine Not Recommended For Adults Over 26, Per New American Cancer Society Guidelines
- Busting the Myths About the HPV Vaccine
HPV's Connection to Cancer
Glenn Moog's tongue cancer was caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), "a group of more than 200 related viruses, some of which are spread through vaginal, anal or oral sex," the National Cancer Institute says.
HPV infection is linked to multiple cancers and the majority of sexually-active people will get the disease at some point in their lives.
Although it's true that nearly all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV, people should also be aware that HPV puts both men and women at risk of developing several other cancers such as oral cancer and cancers of the vagina, penis, anus and throat.
Overall, HPV is believed to be the cause of 90% of anal and cervical cancers, approximately 70% of vaginal and vulvar cancers, and 60% of penile cancers.
"There are no screening guidelines to screen for throat cancer, unlike cervical cancer with pap smears," says Dr. Jessica Geiger, a medical oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet. "There are no standard tests to determine if you harbor the virus."
On the plus side, HPV-related throat cancers are generally very responsive to a combination of radiation and chemotherapy treatments, according to Dr. Geiger.
"The cure rates for people who have HPV-related disease are a lot higher than those who have tobacco-related throat cancer,” she said.
WATCH: HPV's link to cancer.
Protecting Against HPV
Nearly 80 million Americans have HPV today, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It impacts both men and women and won’t cause problems for most people.
However, in a small percentage of cases, it can lead to cancer.
The HPV vaccine is recommended to protect against HPV and therefore HPV-related cancers.
Gardasil 9 is an HPV vaccine that offers protection against "nine HPV types: the two low-risk HPV types that cause most genital warts, plus seven high-risk HPV types that cause most HPV-related cancer," according to the National Cancer Institute.
The vaccine creates an immune response to HPV 16 the primary cause of 92% of head and neck cancers. Once children are vaccinated, they cannot be infected with that strain. For parents, the HPV vaccine enables them to protect their children from developing cancer in the future.
"The key with the vaccine is that you receive it before you have sexual encounters," says Dr. Geiger. "So that's why these vaccines are approved for young children … ages 9, 10, 11 years old, up to age 26."
The HPV vaccine is recommended for all male and female preteens 11 to 12 years old in two doses given between six and 12 months, according to the CDC.
The series of shots can also be started as young as 9 years old.
The CDC also notes that teens and young adults through age 26 who didn't start or finish the HPV vaccine series also need the vaccine.
Additionally, people with weakened immune systems or teens and young adults who started the series between 15 and 26 years old should get three doses instead of two.
Although adults up to 45 years old can still receive the vaccine, it's not recommended for everyone older than 26. Still, a person older than 26 could choose to get vaccinated after talking to their doctor about possible benefits, even despite it being less effective in this age range, as more people have already been exposed to HPV by this point.
WATCH: Should children get the HPV Vaccine?
Vaccine hesitancy can impede people from getting the vaccine. The concern may come from parents who may feel the vaccine paves the way for early sexual activity. For this reason, some health practitioners are educating the public about the vaccine differently.
"I think rebranding the vaccine as a cancer vaccine, rather than an STD vaccine, is critically important," says Dr. Ted Teknos, a head and neck cancer surgeon, and scientific director of University Hospital's Seidman Cancer Center.
Dr. Teknos believes concerted efforts to "change the mindset around the vaccine" can make a difference.
Questions for Your Doctor
If you are concerned about your cancer risk related to the human papillomavirus, or whether cancer you have was caused by HPV, you can use one of the conversation starters below when talking with your doctor:
- I am unsure if I received the HPV vaccine when I was younger. What can I do to know for sure?
- If I experience symptoms that could be because of HPV, what tests can I undergo to know for sure?
- How can I know if the cancer I have was caused by HPV?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.