Cancer associated with the human papilloma virus (HPV) is on the rise, according to a study released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The centers said from 2008 to 2012, there were about 39,000 annual cases of HPV-related cancers, which typically occur in the head, neck, genitals and reproductive organs. That’s up from 33,000 a year from 2004 and 2008.
Among the cases, there were 11,700 cases of cervical cancer and 12,600 cases of oropharyngeal cancer among men.
Of the 39,000 cases, the CDC says 28,500 cases could have been prevented by the HPV vaccine. The vaccine is available to girls and boys starting at the age of 11.