The Canadian Cancer Society is urging parents to get their children vaccinated against HPV, saying cancers caused by the human papillomavirus are rising sharply in Canada and threaten both men and women. Compared with the 78,800 overall cancer deaths expected in 2016 in Canada — with lung cancer the biggest killer — deaths from HPV cancers are much lower. “These cancers are largely preventable through a vaccination,” said Dr. Robert Nuttall, assistant director of health policy with the Canadian Cancer Society. Other cancers caused by HPV include oropharyngeal and oral cavity (25 to 35 per cent of which are caused by HPV), anal (80 to 90 per cent are caused by HPV), vaginal and vulvar cancers (40 per cent related to HPV) and penile cancers (40 to 50 per cent are related to HPV). The Cancer Society report represents a new look at the impact of a preventable cancer.

Source: National Post October 19, 2016 13:41 UTC