Actress Marcia Cross & The Dramatic New Data On How To Reduce Cancer Risk — Giving The HPV Vaccine Early

“Congress must support these efforts to allocate robust funding to increase awareness about the virus and cancers it can cause, and providers and families should be educated about the HPV vaccine,” Cross said, according to HPV Cancers Alliance.

The HPV vaccine is considered one of the best defenses against HPV. The vaccine creates an immune response to HPV 16, the primary cause of 92% of head and neck cancers.

New research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute adds credence to the vaccine’s effectiveness.

Within the study, researchers evaluated 450,000 Scottish women born between January 1, 1988, and June 5, 1996, who had access to cervical cancer screening. 40,000 of the women received two doses of the HPV vaccine between 12 and 13 years old. An additional 120,000 women between 14 and 22 received three vaccine doses. 300,000 women were not vaccinated altogether.

RELATED: I’m Not a Teenage Girl: Should I Still Get the HPV Vaccine?

When the data was reviewed in 2020, researchers found that none of the women who received the HPV vaccine between 12 and 13 years old was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Cervical cancer begins in the cells lining the cervix, the lower part of the womb (uterus). It usually develops slowly, however, before cancer presents itself. Vaginal bleeding or pelvic pain are common symptoms.

Women who were vaccinated between 14 and 22 years old were three times less likely (3.2 cases per 100,000 women) to be diagnosed with cervical cancer. Women who went without the HPV vaccine saw higher incidence rates for cervical cancer at (8.4 cases per 100,000 women).

RELATED: Don’t be Swayed by Myths: The HPV Vaccine is Completely Safe

Marcia Cross Cancer Journey

Cross was diagnosed with anal cancer In November 2017, following a routine check-up at the gynecologist. Her doctor felt something unusual during a digital rectal exam, so Cross was directed to a clinic to get it checked out. After two biopsies and one colonoscopy, Cross’ cancer diagnosis was confirmed.

The National Cancer Institute says, “Most anal cancers are related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.” Common signs include bleeding from the anus or a lump near the anus.

Cross has been public about her cancer fight and admitted chemotherapy was challenging, but the cancer warrior fought through it.

“I will say that when I had my first chemo treatment, I thought I was doing great. And then, out of nowhere, I felt this sting on my lip; it was excruciating. It was from the chemo,” Cross told Coping magazine.

Cross told SurvivorNet in a previous interview her cancer diagnosis was HPV-related.

“I didn’t have any symptoms. Never had an irregular pap smear. I had never heard of HPV until my husband. We both probably carried it for most of our lives. I think there’s just a vast lack of knowledge about HPV and how it’s spread, how we carry it, what happens to it when you have it,” Cross said.

RELATED: Artist and Cancer Survivor Michael Rees Gets Behind HPV Vaccine Awareness

HPV’s Cancer Link

HPV infection is linked to multiple cancers, and most sexually active people will get the disease at some point in their lives.

Although nearly all cases of cervical cancer are indeed 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.

WATCH: Why the HPV Vaccine is so Important in Preventing Cancer

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.

Protecting Against HPV

Nearly 80 million Americans have HPV today, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It impacts 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 start as young as 9.

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 between 15 and 26 who started the series should get three doses instead of two.

Although adults up to 45 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

Suppose you are concerned about your cancer risk related to the human papillomavirus or whether HPV caused the cancer you have. In that case, 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 HPV caused the cancer I have?

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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