A new survey finds only 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. have heard of the HPV virus that causes oral and cervical cancer… and even fewer know there's a preventive vaccine.
The Human Papillomavirus or HPV is one of the most common viruses in the world.
In the U.S., it causes tens of thousands of cancer cases each year. Yet, millions of Americans have never heard of it.
In a new national survey, 22,000 adults were asked:
“Have you ever heard of HPV?”
and
“Have you ever heard of the cervical cancer vaccine or HPV shot?”
The results?
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1 in 3 adults had never heard of HPV.
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And more than 37% didn’t know there was a vaccine.
Even among people who knew about HPV, nearly 71% were unaware it could cause oral cancers, while 28% were unaware of the link to cervical cancer.
The lack of HPV awareness was most alarming in many Midwestern and Southern states where it topped 40%, according to the results.
The authors say the findings are troubling because these regions have recently seen a marked rise in HPV-associated cancers.
They say boosting awareness — especially among teens, young adults, parents, and healthcare providers — could help increase vaccination rates and save lives.
Source: JAMA Oncology
Author Associations: University of South Carolina
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