HPV cancer rising in men, Cancer Society wants boys vaccinated

The Canadian Cancer Society is warning the Newfoundland and Labrador government that it's no longer enough to vaccinate only girls for the human papillomavirus (HPV).

New statistics suggest boys need the vaccine too.

• Male HPV-related oral cancer rates on the rise: Canadian Cancer Society

A report released by the Canadian Cancer Society says the number of Canadian men with HPV-related mouth and throat cancer is rising, and could surpass the rate of cervical cancer caused by HPV.

The study says between 1992 and 2012, the number of men with HPV mouth and throat cancer rose by 56 per cent.

Threat to men and women

Matthew Piercey, CEO of the Newfoundland and Labrador chapter of the Canadian Cancer Society, said HPV was once seen as a threat only to women, but the society now knows the virus causes up to 35 per cent of mouth and throat cancers in both sexes.

"We need to work hand in hand with government," said Piercey.

"You can go to your family doctor ... to get the male child vaccinated, which we urge people to do, but it really needs to be within the school system as well."

For anyone going the family doctor route, the latest version of the vaccine, Gardasil-9, isn't cheap.

At one local pharmacy, the cost of a single dose is $204, and the child may need two or three doses depending on age. 

In 2007, the provincial government launched a school vaccination program targeting girls in Grade 6 to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer in this province.

At the time, the cost of the program was approximately $4.6 million over three years. 

Preventable cancer

Piercey said that this province's vaccination program should be expanded to include boys. Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Quebec all vaccinate boys and girls.

The Canadian Cancer Society doesn't have statistics on HPV-related cancers in this province, but nationally, Piercey said nearly 4,400 people will be diagnosed with an HPV cancer this year.

About 1,200 of them will die from the disease.

"Now we know that males as well are directly impacted, and the numbers are increasing ... All of these cancers can be prevented."

CBC contacted the Health Department to ask if a program expansion is being considered, but had not received a response as of Wednesday evening.