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The HPV vaccine was initially dogged by controversy — even becoming a political issue in the U.S. — with some fearing it would promote early sexual activity in children. Joanne DiNardo, a senior manager of public issues with the Cancer Society, said she has not seen any of that kind of controversy lately in Canada. “I think once people understood this is about cancer protection — that you could actually prevent cancer — the discourse changed.”

But coverage rates, she said, are not where they should be, which is one reason the Canadian Cancer Society put together a special report looking at the impact of cancers caused by the virus.

In the moment it takes to vaccinate your children, you are helping to protect them from cancer in the future

There are more than 100 kinds of HPV, 25 of which are known or suspected to cause cancer. Most sexually active people will have an HPV infection at some point and will never know it. Infections clear within two years and cause no physical symptoms.

HPV is responsible for all cases of cervical cancer — which account for 35 per cent of HPV-related cancers in Canada. 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).

Officials with the Canadian Cancer Society say it is not clear why HPV-related mouth and throat cancers have increased so quickly in recent years, something that is also a trend in other parts of the world. Eighty per cent of HPV mouth and throat cancers occur in men. More than one-third of all HPV-related cancers occur in men.

Smith said that figure underscores the importance of the vaccine for boys and girls.

The Cancer Society report represents a new look at the impact of a preventable cancer.

“Never before have we had Canadian statistics on the burden of these cancers in Canada,” said Smith. “That is really important.”