Every year, over 600,000 people worldwide are diagnosed with HPV-related cancers, including cervical, anal, oropharyngeal, penile, vulvar, and vaginal cancers. In the United States alone, more than 14,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually. These statistics highlight the urgent need for awareness, education, and collective action—especially on HPV Awareness Day (March 4). The good news? Many of these cases and deaths are preventable.
The Facts About HPV
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is extremely common, with 80% of people contracting it at some point in their lives. Despite its prevalence, many people mistakenly believe that HPV only affects women. However, HPV can affect anyone, regardless of gender. One of the challenges with HPV is that it often has no visible symptoms, making it difficult to know if you have it.
While cervical cancer accounts for most HPV-related cancer diagnoses, cases of head and neck and anal cancers in both men and women are increasing. In fact, HPV is responsible for 60,000 cancer diagnoses in men each year.
Although there is no approved screening test for other HPV-related cancers, for individuals with a cervix, cervical cancer screening can detect abnormal cells in the cervix that could develop into cervical cancer, while an HPV test indicates that the virus is present in the cervix. If you notice genital warts or have concerns about HPV, it’s essential to speak with your healthcare provider to detect and treat HPV early.
Expert Insights with Dr. Shobha S. Krishnan
Dr. Shobha S Krishnan is a renowned board-certified family physician and gynecologist with over 30 years of experience in primary care and women’s health. As the Founder and President of the Global Initiative Against HPV and Cervical Cancer (GIAHC), she has dedicated her career to combating cervical cancer and HPV-related diseases globally. Her work has taken her to various parts of the world, including rural India, where she has implemented innovative screening and treatment methods, such as visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and cryotherapy.
“Cervical cancer is something that we can almost completely eliminate by vaccination and screening. However, we should not even have one death, because we have the tools to prevent it.”
Through GIAHC, Dr. Krishnan aims to educate providers, parents, and the public about the importance of HPV vaccination, screening, and early treatment. Despite the challenges faced in both developed and developing countries, Dr. Krishnan remains committed to making the HPV vaccine affordable, accessible, and acceptable to all. Her organization has partnered with various groups, including the American Medical Women’s Association, to raise awareness and promote education about HPV and cervical cancer. Her book, “The HPV Vaccine Controversy,” is a valuable resource for anyone seeking to understand the disease and the importance of vaccination.
Meet Morgan Newman: A Young Adult’s Journey with Cervical Cancer
At just 24 years old, Morgan Newman received the devastating news that she had stage III cervical cancer. Despite undergoing intense treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, and a metastatic recurrence to her lungs. “I’ll admit, when I was a teenager, I was very hesitant to get the HPV vaccine. My mom begged me to get it, but I told her no because I was skeptical, and I told her it would never happen to me.”
Soon after Morgan entered the survivorship phase, she found her voice through the Cervivor community by attending a patient advocacy training. Now, 10 years later, she’s on a mission to raise awareness and empower others. Morgan proudly serves as Cervivor’s Community Engagement Liaison. “I’m lucky because I went in for a routine screening, and that’s how my cancer was detected. I’m lucky because my body responded to two journeys with cervical cancer.”
HPV-Related Cancer Survivors Share Their Stories
Quinn Billie Jo was diagnosed with stage III anal cancer, which severely impacted her quality of life. The tumor destroyed her sphincter muscle, causing severe issues like incontinence, and she is now scheduled for surgery, which will result in two colostomy bags, one for urine and one for fecal matter. Despite their resilience, Quinn faces the added burden of stigma surrounding anal cancer, often receiving uncomfortable reactions when sharing their diagnosis. Quinn would like to change that narrative.
Patrick, a penile cancer survivor, is advocating for increased awareness and conversation about human papillomavirus (HPV) and its link to male cancers. After being diagnosed with penile cancer in 2020, Patrick underwent life-altering surgery and treatment. He is now urging young people to get vaccinated against HPV and encouraging older men to speak openly about male cancers, emphasizing that conversations about penile cancer should be as normalized as those about breast cancer.
Ada, a 62-year-old single mother of two, was diagnosed with HPV-positive squamous cell carcinoma after discovering a lump on her neck, which she initially thought was a reaction to a bee sting. Following a series of medical appointments, biopsies, and surgeries, Ada underwent 33 radiation sessions and six rounds of chemotherapy. She credits the bee sting with saving her life, as it led her to discover the cancer. With the support of her loved ones, Ada successfully completed her treatment and rang the bell, symbolizing her triumph over cancer.
Teresa, a 40-year-old Black woman, was diagnosed with vulvar cancer after visiting her doctor about a persistent bump on her vulva. Despite her initial calm demeanor, Teresa’s world was turned upside down when her doctor revealed that the cancer was more aggressive than anticipated. After undergoing two surgeries, including a node dissection, Teresa was relieved to learn that the cancer had not spread to her lymph nodes. Now cancer-free, Teresa advocates for HPV vaccination, particularly among young Black women, who she believes are more vulnerable to the virus. She emphasizes the importance of early detection and encourages open conversations about vulvar cancer to combat shame and stigma.
A Call to Action: Eliminating HPV-Related Cancers
So, what can you do to help eliminate HPV-related cancers? The answer is simple: Every action counts, every voice matters, and every choice can make a difference. By taking control of our own health, sharing our stories, and supporting others, we can create a ripple effect that spreads far and wide. Here are some ways you can join the movement:
Get Informed: Learn about HPV, its risks, and the importance of vaccination and screening. Share this knowledge with others to help spread awareness.
Get vaccinated: The HPV vaccine is available for both males and females and can protect against certain types of HPV that can cause cancer.
Get screened: Regular cervical cancer screening can help detect abnormal cell changes early, when they’re easier to treat.
Share your story: If you or someone you know has been affected by HPV-related cancer, share your story to help raise awareness and support others.
The statistics are staggering, the stories are heart-wrenching, but the message is clear: We have the power to eliminate HPV-related cancers. By sharing our stories, educating ourselves and others, getting vaccinated, and getting screened, we can create a world where no one has to suffer from these preventable diseases.
“Our stories are powerful, but they’re so much more impactful as a collective voice.” – Morgan Newman
Let’s continue to break the silence, let’s shatter the stigma, and let’s unite in our quest for an HPV cancer-free future. Join the movement, share your voice, and together, we can make a difference.
Cervical cancer affects thousands of women in the United States each year, hitting Black communities particularly hard. Of the estimated 13,360 new cases in 2025, the American Cancer Society projects 2,180 will be in Black women, with 610 deaths – a higher incidence rate than their share of the general population. Black women are 19% more likely to develop cervical cancer and nearly 65% more likely to die from it than white women. Systemic health disparities, medical mistrust, and cultural barriers both create and widen this gap.
While other groups – such as Indigenous women, Latinas, and LGBTQ+ individuals – face similar challenges, Black women experience them at disproportionately higher rates. Kimberly Williams knows this firsthand.
Kimberly’s Story
Kimberly Williams
“I had never heard of cervical cancer before. I thought I was the only person in the world with it,” recalls the Houston mother of two, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in February 2018 after visiting a doctor for irregular menstrual cycles in late 2017. She felt blindsided, like many who receive a late-stage diagnosis – a trend that is on the rise, with Black women having the highest number of these cases.
Kimberly was taught to keep family matters private, especially health issues. “Growing up, my mother would say, ‘What goes on in the house stays in the house.'” But staying silent only made her feel more isolated.
After a radical hysterectomy in March, her surgeon informed her that all of the cancer wasn’t gone and she would need radiation and chemotherapy. When her insurance repeatedly denied PET scan authorization – an imaging test crucial for assessing her condition – she became discouraged. “After a couple of months, I thought, ‘Forget it. I’m fine. I’m healed,’” she shares in this new CervivorTV video.
But she wasn’t fine. A recurrence in 2019 forced Kimberly to undergo treatment. Her oncologist’s dismissive approach almost made her walk away again.
“She just said, ‘You’re starting chemo tomorrow,’ without explaining anything. I had to say, ‘Talk to me like I’ve never had cancer before,’” says Kimberly, who holds a master’s degree and has been a social services worker for over 20 years. “Some people would stop their treatment right there. Not being respected enough to have things explained properly is a major barrier to care.”
Fortunately, Kimberly’s story has a happy ending. Now cancer-free, she is committed to speaking out to help others avoid the struggles she faced.
“As a Black woman, I realized that other Black people listen to other Black people. That’s just how it is,” says Kimberly, who now serves as the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) Officer at Cervivor, Inc. and was recently named to the Steering Committee of the American Cancer Society National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer. “I had to make the hard decision to share my story.”
‘Holes’ in the Healthcare System
Kimberly’s experience underscores the need for shared stories to drive change in cervical cancer outcomes. Yet, significant healthcare disparities and barriers to care persist.
Despite recent reports that some public health officials are being discouraged from using terms like “health equity” and “disparities,” Cervivor Founder and Chief Visionary Tamika Felder warns against brushing aside the research fueling life-saving progress. “Health equity is more important than ever. Ignoring the reasons behind disparities only makes the gaps wider,” says Tamika, a member of the National Cancer Advisory Board (NCAB) and co-chair of the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable. “We know where the inequities exist and why. Trying to erase or undermine the incredible work being done to close these gaps is deeply troubling. If we continue down this path, it will be even harder to repair.”
Cervivor Founder Tamika Felder gives her annual State of Cervical Cancer speech at the Summit.Dr. Lynn Richards McDonald of Johns Hopkins Hospital shares her expertise with attendees.
Dr. Lynn Richards McDonald, Clinical Program Director for cervical cancer screening at Johns Hopkins Hospital, is a leading expert on health equity. She has dedicated her career to advancing it through advocacy, collaboration, and community outreach. Dr. McDonald identifies critical “holes” in the healthcare system that contribute to higher cervical cancer mortality rates in the Black community: “These ‘holes’ – cost, lack of knowledge, embarrassment, clinical bias, cultural differences, and fear – prevent timely screenings and treatment,” explains Dr. McDonald, who spoke about strategies for inclusive cervical cancer care at last month’s Cervical Cancer Summit Powered by Cervivor, Inc.
Key Disparities in Diagnosis and Treatment
One striking paradox: Although Black women have higher rates of initial Pap testing (64% in the past two years compared to 59% of white women, 60% of Hispanic women, and 57% of Asian women), they still face disproportionately high cervical cancer rates. This disparity is largely due to lower follow-up rates after abnormal Pap results and later-stage diagnoses. A 2020 systematic review of 34 studies involving over 1.2 million patients found that even a three-week delay in cancer treatment, including cervical cancer, significantly impacts survival rates.
Dr. Andrea Stubbs, Administrative Director for the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program, emphasizes how poor communication by medical professionals can affect follow-up after an abnormal Pap or positive HPV test: “Patients of color often receive vague explanations, like ‘dirty cells’ or ‘a little virus,’ which downplay the urgency of follow-up. For many, missing work for appointments means losing money, adding another layer of difficulty.”
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital recently received the Cervivor Champion Award for its dedication to ending cervical cancer. Dr. Andrea Stubbs (on the right) and Julia Brown accept the award on behalf of the organization at the 2025 Summit.
Where people live and insurance coverage affect outcomes, too. In 2022, Human Rights Watch reported that rural Black women face a cervical cancer rate nearly 50% higher than rural white women and are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages with lower survival rates. A 2023 study also confirmed that Black women have 18% higher odds of receiving a advanced-stage diagnosis compared to white women, largely due to health insurance access.
When it comes to enrollment in cutting-edge clinical trials, the gap is even wider – less than 5% of participants are Black, limiting how applicable the results are to diverse populations. Barriers such as travel distance to research centers and a lack of transparency in trial processes add to this underrepresentation.
“Many Black women hesitate to participate in clinical trials due to distrust of the medical community,” explains Tiffany Drummond, a clinical research expert who spoke on the topic at the recent Summit. “Patients are smart, but they don’t know what they don’t know until the research and data are shared with them. Why can’t that information be shared?”
Tiffany Drummond (right) highlights the importance of informed decision-making in clinical trials with survivor and advocate Lynda Ryan.Clinical-trial participant Gwen Jackson takes part in a Q&A session at the Summit.
Cervivor Ambassador Gwendolyn “Gwen” Jackson, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 cervical cancer in 2020, credits clinical trials for extending her life. “I’m still alive because of clinical trials,” says the Texas grandmother of three. However, she initially had concerns about participating: “In the African-American community, there’s a deep-rooted distrust of clinical trials,” she shared with The Patient Story last December. “It goes back to when they were using African Americans for experiments and really being the ‘guinea pigs.’”
Medical Mistrust: A Barrier Rooted in History
Gwen’s insight on the roots of medical mistrust in the Black community is spot-on. As Dr. Wendy Kline shares in the latest Cervivor Podcast about her new book Exposed: The Hidden History of the Pelvic Exam, the gynecological abuse of Black women in America dates back over 200 years. It began with James Marion Sims, often called the “father of modern gynecology,” and has persisted through generations.
“The origins of gynecology date back to the 19th century with the invention of the speculum,” Dr. Kline, a Historian of Medicine at Purdue University, explains, referring to the familiar tool used for pelvic exams. “Sims built gynecology on the bodies of enslaved women, three of whom underwent multiple procedures without anesthesia. These non-consensual experiments perfected techniques that defined the field, raising ongoing questions about consent and ethical treatment.” She adds, “Although not every gynecologist is abusive, the history is inherently problematic.” (Read more about the three enslaved women – Anarcha, Betsy, and Lucy – and what they endured in the name of “science” in this powerful retelling by Women & the American Story.)
Another example is Henrietta Lacks, a now-celebrated Black woman who sought treatment at Johns Hopkins in 1951 for abnormal vaginal bleeding. A tobacco farmer and mother of five, she was admitted to the “colored ward,” as a recent St. Jude Research article recounts. After eight months of radiation treatment, Henrietta died at 31, but her cancer cells were taken without consent, leading to the development of HeLa cells that advanced cervical cancer research. (To learn more about Henrietta’s impact on medical ethics, check out last month’s Cervivor Podcast with her great-granddaughter, Veronica Robinson, and Johns Hopkins’ Dr. McDonald.)
The article summarizes, “The medical mistrust generated by historical mistreatments has been passed down over time. Avoiding regular gynecological care makes Black women more likely to be diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer, decreasing survival.”
Breaking the Cycle: How Awareness Can Save Lives
St. Jude highlights another critical factor contributing to higher cervical cancer mortality rates among Black women: lack of awareness about the human papillomavirus (HPV) and the HPV vaccine, in particular. Data from the Office of Minority Health (OMH) indicates that in 2022, non-Hispanic Black females aged 19 to 26 were 20% less likely to have ever received an HPV vaccine than non-Hispanic white females in the same age group.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that vaccine uptake among all children is still quite low, with only 38.6% of children aged 9 to 17 receiving at least one dose in 2022. While there is no significant statistical difference between Black and white children, health insurance status is a key factor. A February 2024 CDC report found that children with private health insurance (41.5%) were most likely to have received one or more HPV vaccine doses, compared with children with Medicaid coverage (37.0%), other government coverage (30.2%), and those without insurance (20.7%). Despite initial gains in coverage from the Affordable Care Act (ACA), Black people remain 1.5 times more likely to be uninsured than white people, according to a February 2025 report looking at health coverage by race and ethnicity between 2010 and 2023.
But awareness and access aren’t the only barriers. As with avoiding gynecological check-ups or low participation in clinical trials, medical mistrust contributes to some Black parents’ hesitancy or refusal to vaccinate their children against HPV. A 2023 Journal of Pediatric Health Care study led by Ariel Washington, Ph.D., MSSW, of the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute found that concerns ranged from vaccine safety to the recommended age, noting that, “Some believed their children were being offered the vaccine at a younger age than most because the health care provider believed the child would become sexually active earlier.”
In an article about the study on the cancer institute’s website, Dr. Washington shared, “One recurring theme was that parents often felt unheard and unable to ask questions about HPV vaccination.” The study reinforces St. Jude’s recommendation that clear, direct communication from healthcare providers is key to increasing vaccination rates in Black communities.
For Black cervical cancer survivors like Kimberly, who remembers not knowing anything about HPV or cervical cancer when she was diagnosed, spreading awareness in the Black community is imperative. “I realized I had to make sure others knew about the resources out there to prevent cervical cancer: screening and vaccination. By keeping quiet, we risk lives.”
If you feel unheard by your medical providers, Gwen offers this advice: “When you go to the doctor’s office, they are working for you. You are not working for them. So, it’s okay to use your voice. If something feels wrong, speak up. If there’s a treatment you don’t want, say that.”
Find Your Community and Take Action
Most importantly, you don’t have to go through this alone. For many, finding community is life-changing. Kimberly describes discovering Cervivor as a turning point in her recovery. Gwen was surprised by the sense of solidarity she found: “I thought it was just Black women who went through this. But now, being in the teal-and-white community, the Cervivor community, we chat with each other. It’s all of us, as women.”
Cancer survivor Bikira Radcliffe, who founded United Colors of Cancer in 2020 to ensure optimal cancer care for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), also highlights the growing role of faith-based organizations in supporting mental health and cancer care in communities of color. “In Black and Brown communities, mental health is only now becoming a common discussion,” she shared during a panel at the Summit. “Many people turn to churches and similar institutions for support, and we’re seeing these organizations begin integrating cancer care and mental health resources into their missions.”
From left, Esra Urkmez Uzel, Lilly Stairs, and Bikira Radcliffe discuss patient advocacy and preventing cancer burnout at the 2025 Summit.
Ultimately, the story of cervical cancer in the Black community isn’t just about statistics – it’s about lived experiences that highlight the urgent need for change. At Cervivor, we are committed to ending cervical cancer through:
Education: Providing accurate, accessible information on HPV, cervical cancer risks, and the importance of regular screenings.
Advocacy: Amplifying voices to break the stigma and silence surrounding these issues.
Empowerment: Encouraging individuals to take charge of their health by advocating for themselves, asking questions, and demanding timely, respectful care.
Consider these ways to connect with other Black cervical cancer patients and survivors through Cervivor:
Participants at Cervivor’s 2024 Communities of Color Retreat in Cleveland, OH.
Communities of Color Retreat – A training to support and empower individuals from diverse communities who have been impacted by cervical cancer, the retreat aims to provide a platform for sharing experiences, connecting with others, and promoting health equity and awareness about cervical cancer. Learn more about the most recent retreat.
Cervivor Noir – A private group reserved for cervical cancer patients and survivors who identify as African American or Black. Join today and connect with others in the community!
Black Cervix Chat – An event that aims to bridge gaps in healthcare access and provide a supportive space for discussions related to cervical health, screenings, and general well-being for those in the Black community. Watch now on CervivorTV!
Cervivor Stories – Visit the Cervivor website to read the testimonies of others impacted by cervical cancer and share your story with an easy-to-follow template.
By advocating for awareness, equitable healthcare, and open conversations, the Black community can break the silence and move toward a healthier cervical-cancer-free future.
