Did You Get Your Vaccination?
What is Oral Cancer?
- Among the top 10 most common cancers worldwide.
- The most common head and neck cancer is squamous cell carcinoma in the epithelium, which is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal skin-like cells.
- Common symptoms include mouth lesions, abnormal growths, bleeding, or loose teeth.
Types of Head and Neck Cancer
- Oral Cancer: Affects the inside and back of the mouth.
- Oropharyngeal Cancer: Affects the middle part of the throat.
Who is at Risk?
- Men are three times more at-risk than women.
- Highest incidence rates in white males.
- Individuals aged 50 and older, although the infection responsible for the disease can be contracted during adolescence.
Risk Factors
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) status.
- Tobacco and cannabis use.
- Alcohol consumption.
- Genetics.
What is Human Papillomavirus (HPV)?
- HPV are DNA viruses that target squamous epithelia.
- There are over 120 types of HPV, with 50% of infections associated with elevated cancer risk.
- High-risk HPV types 16 and 18 can cause cancer by producing two proteins, E6 and E7, which disable the body’s tumor suppressor proteins, p53 and pRb.
- HPV is the most prevalent Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI); 90% of sexually active men and 80% of sexually active women will be infected.
- HPV is spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact and vaginal, anal, or oral sex, even if one’s partner doesn’t show symptoms.
- HPV symptoms include warts in various areas across the body including: oral, nasal, conjunctival areas, genitals or hands.
Gator Health Alert!
Alachua County has a higher oral cancer rate (peaking around 20 per 100,000) than the Florida average (10-15 per 100,000). A possible reason for this is that HPV vaccination rates in Alachua are 10-15% lower than the rest of Florida in recent years.
You can get your vaccine at the UF Student Health Care Center.
What is the HPV Vaccine?
- Gardasil 9 protects against nine types of HPV and symptoms including oral and genital cancers.
- Administered as a two- or three-dose series.
Why Get Vaccinated?
- Prevents over 90% of HPV-related cancers, including oral cancer.
- HPV types 16 & 18: Cause 80% of cervical cancers.
- HPV types 6 & 11: Cause 90% of genital warts.
- Five additional cancer-causing HPV types (31, 33, 45, 52, 58).
Who Should Get the Vaccine?
- Recommended for everyone up to age 26 if unvaccinated.
- Boys aged 11–12: Target group to prevent oral cancer (CDC).
- Girls aged 9–14: Key group to prevent cervical cancer (WHO).
- Not recommended for pregnant women.
- Does not treat existing HPV infections.
What Are Possible Side Effects?
- Pain, swelling, redness, or lump at the injection site.
- Headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, tiredness, or abdominal pain.
- Serious allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) are extremely rare.
Always consult your healthcare provider with concerns.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please contact:
UF Student Healthcare Center
2140 Stadium Rd
Gainesville, FL 32611
352-392-1161
UF Health Oral Medicine Clinic, UF College of Dentistry
1395 Center Drive
Gainesville, FL 32610
352-273-6741 | Fax: 352-294-8064
Information provided by:
UF Health Oral Medicine Clinic
More information can be found about the HPV vaccine on UF Health’s website on this page and about oral cancer UF Health’s website on this page.