cancer prevention Archives

By the Cervivor Communications Team

Today marks 20 years since the FDA approved the first HPV vaccine — a milestone that has prevented countless HPV‑related cancers and saved lives across the globe.

While this anniversary is worth celebrating (and we gushed about it on International HPV Awareness Day this March), leaders in cancer prevention agree: There is still significant work ahead to increase vaccine uptake, combat misinformation, and ensure equitable access to prevention.

A National Voice for HPV Cancer Prevention

One of those leaders doing the work is Cervivor’s Founder and Chief Visionary Tamika Felder.

Just last week, during a Senate Permanent Subcommittee hearing on vaccine safety and attacks on science research, she delivered a powerful message:

“As a cervical cancer survivor and advocate, I have seen both the devastating toll of cancer and the profound promise of prevention… We must continue to share science-based information openly, support rigorous safety monitoring, and ensure that every person has the opportunity to protect themselves and their families.”

*Cervivor Founder Tamika Felder was one of seven witnesses invited to address U.S. Senators on vaccine safety during a June 3, 2026, hearing. (PBS screenshot)*

In a recent article with the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), Tamika added, “I know for a fact my parents would have vaccinated me.” The vaccine wasn’t available when she survived cervical cancer 25 years ago.

For Cervivor, HPV vaccine education isn’t limited to awareness days or anniversaries (though we do love celebrating those!). It is a year‑round commitment powered by cervical cancer survivors, researchers, healthcare providers, and public health leaders working toward the elimination of cervical cancer.

Below are upcoming events and recent content from Cervivor and our partners — all helping spread awareness of the life‑saving power of HPV vaccination along with regular screening.

Upcoming Awareness Events

Whether online or in person, these upcoming events offer opportunities to learn, connect, and help advance the conversation around HPV prevention and cervical cancer elimination.

Celebrating 20 Years of HPV Vaccination in the U.S.

June 12, 2026 | Virtual Webinar | 12–1 PM CT

Hosted by the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program, this special webinar marks the 20th anniversary of the FDA approval of the first HPV vaccine. Cervivor Founder and Chief Visionary Tamika Felder, a co-chair of the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable, will join experts from across the cancer prevention community to discuss the future of HPV cancer prevention.

Gynecological Cancer Survivors Retreat and Advocacy Training

September 24–27, 2026 | Scottsdale, Arizona

Powered by the highly acclaimed Cervivor School, this immersive retreat welcomes survivors of all gynecologic cancers and equips them with skills to advocate for prevention, screening, and vaccination, amplifying awareness of HPV-related cancers and the tools available to prevent them.

2027 Cervical Cancer Summit Powered by Cervivor, Inc.

January 28–31, 2027 | Washington, D.C.

The Cervical Cancer Summit convenes survivors, advocates, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to advance cervical cancer prevention and elimination. HPV vaccination remains a key focus, with experts addressing barriers to uptake and strategies to improve access. At the 2026 Cervical Cancer Summit, immunization expert Dr. Michelle Fiscus, MD, FAAP, emphasized that misinformation remains one of the biggest obstacles to vaccination. Save the date!

*Association of Immunization Managers’ CMO Michelle Fiscus, MD, FAAP, was a featured speaker at Cervivor’s 2026 Summit.*

Must-Listen Podcasts

From a forthcoming anniversary special to a Cervivor classic, these episodes spotlight the science, stories, and advocacy driving HPV cancer prevention.

A Dose of Optimism Podcast: Celebrating 20 Years of HPV Vaccination

Hosted by Omkar Kulkarni, Chief Innovation & Transformation Officer at CHPA and Founder and Managing Director of KidsX, this special anniversary episode features vaccine expert Dr. Paul Offit and advocate Judy Klein. The conversation reflects on 20 years of HPV vaccination, ongoing challenges to vaccine uptake, and opportunities to prevent more HPV-related cancers. Expected to be released the week of June 15, stay tuned for the upcoming episode.

Cervivor Podcast: “All Your Questions Answered About the HPV Vaccine” with Guest Dr. Nathan Boonstra

Originally released in 2022, this episode remains an excellent resource for anyone seeking reliable information about the HPV vaccine. Cervivor Ambassador and host Joslyn Paguio sits down with Iowa pediatrician Dr. Nathan Boonstra to answer common questions about vaccine safety, effectiveness, and the importance of childhood immunizations.

Cervivors: In Their Own Words

These recent Cervivor Blog posts spotlight survivor experiences while championing leaders in HPV vaccination education, research, and advocacy — and providing actionable information to help prevent HPV-related cancers.

“Cervical Cancer Prevention: Real Survivor Stories, Real Lessons About Early Detection”

Cervical cancer prevention graphic with teal ribbon and survivor portraits of Nia Casey, Ayanna Bass, and Trish Byerly, highlighting early detection awareness

Published during April’s National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month, this collection of first-person survivor stories demonstrates how prevention, screening, and early detection can save lives.

“Women Leading the Charge Toward Cervical Cancer Elimination”

Women healthcare leaders on a purple banner with a graphic highlighting diverse women.

This Women’s History Month post highlights researchers, clinicians, and public health leaders driving progress in HPV vaccination, cervical cancer prevention, and elimination efforts.

“A Cervical Cancer Survivor’s Story: The Truth About the HPV Vaccine — And Why Every Parent Should Start at Age 9”

Written by Cervivor Ambassador Ginny Marable (pictured) during Cervical Cancer Awareness Month 2026, this personal reflection explores why she wishes the vaccine had been available to her and why starting at age 9 offers children protection long before exposure to HPV.

“HPV Vaccine Facts: What Everyone Should Know”

This accessible resource breaks down vaccine safety, effectiveness, and cancer prevention benefits while addressing common misconceptions. As Cervivor Ambassador Zuli Garcia shared during National Immunization Awareness Month in 2025: “I’m living proof of what happens when access comes too late. The HPV vaccine represents hope, protection, and equity.”

“Preventing HPV-Related Cancers: Cervivor’s Urgent Call for Action This Women’s Health Month”

Following the first-ever National HPV Conference last year, where Tamika participated as a panelist (above center), this article highlights practical steps individuals, healthcare providers, and policymakers can take to reduce HPV-related cancers through vaccination, prevention, and public health action.

The Work Continues

Twenty years after the HPV vaccine’s approval, progress is undeniable. Yet too many people remain unvaccinated, too many families lack access to accurate information, and too many HPV-related cancers still occur.

Published today, CIDRAP’s “Two Sisters, One Virus: A Family Devastated by HPV” tells the story of former Lead Cervivor Ambassador Erica Frazier Stum, who died of cervical cancer at age 33, and the legacy of advocacy she left behind. As her sister, Hallie Martin, reflected, “A vaccine could have saved her life.”

*“Erica Frazier Stum learned to surf after being diagnosed with incurable cervical cancer,” wrote CIDRAP investigative reporter* *Liz Szabo, MA*.

Stories like Erica’s remind us why this work matters, which is exactly what Cervivor Founder Tamika Felder told Senators last week:

“Too many lives are cut short by cervical cancer. Erica Frazier Stum, Teolita Rickenbacker, and Becky Wallace were more than diagnoses — they were mothers, sisters, friends, and contributors to their communities. Their stories remind us why prevention, vaccination, and continued research are essential to saving lives.”

Becky Wallace
March 21, 1983 – October 14, 2021

That is why Cervivor remains committed to education, advocacy, and survivor-powered action — not just today, but every day. Through storytelling, partnerships, public education, and policy engagement, we will continue working toward a future where no one has to face a preventable HPV-related cancer, especially not alone.

By Sara Lyle-Ingersoll, Cervivor Communications Director

Happy 20th birthday, HPV vaccine!

Two decades is a big deal. Cervivor marked the same milestone last year, so we know a bit about what 20 years of impact feels like.

We still remember the excitement in 2006 when the first HPV vaccine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The news made the cover of Time magazine and the front page of The New York Times. But it wasn’t just another medical headline — it was a major scientific breakthrough. The idea that we could prevent cervical cancer before it ever started felt revolutionary. The hope was palpable.

Which makes today, International HPV Awareness Day — part of the International Papillomavirus Society‘s (IPVS) annual campaign to promote HPV prevention, screening, and care — a fitting moment to say happy birthday, thank you, and keep up the good work. Consider this our love letter to you, HPV vaccine.

Why We Love You

Let’s start with the obvious: You prevent cancer.

Not symptoms. Not severity. Cancer.

HPV is incredibly common — about 80% of people will be infected at some point in their lives. Most infections clear on their own, but some persist and can lead to cancer. Globally, HPV causes nearly all cervical cancers and contributes to cancers of the anus, oropharynx (throat), vulva, vagina, and penis. Together, HPV-related cancers account for more than 720,000 new cancer cases and roughly 350,000 deaths worldwide each year.

When you were first approved in 2006, you protected against four HPV types, including types 16 and 18, which cause the majority of cervical cancers. Today’s version protects against nine HPV types: seven responsible for about 90% of cervical cancers, plus two that cause most genital warts. That’s pretty badass. Pardon our language.

Because prevention works best before infection occurs, vaccination is recommended between age 11 and 12, and can be given as early as 9. In this video for HPV Day 2026, IPVS envisions a world free from the cancer-causing virus — made possible in large part by you.

Your Track Record Speaks for Itself

More than half a billion doses of the HPV vaccine have been given out worldwide, and decades of safety monitoring across multiple countries continue to confirm that you are safe.

Any side effects are typically mild and temporary, and serious reactions are rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and numerous independent reviews consistently affirm your safety.

And are you effective? Heck, yes! The data is just as strong.

Countries with high vaccination coverage — think Australia, Rwanda, Sweden — have documented dramatic declines in HPV infections, genital warts, and high-grade cervical precancers among young people.

This is no longer about projections or promises. The receipts are in. Here are just a few:

A landmark 2020 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that Swedish girls vaccinated before age 17 had an 88% lower risk of cervical cancer compared to unvaccinated peers.
In the U.K., research published in The Lancet in 2021 showed nearly a 90% reduction in cervical cancer among women vaccinated between 12 and 13.
In the U.S., a 2025 CDC analysis of 2008–2022 data found that cervical precancers among women 20 to 24 — the first generation routinely vaccinated — declined by roughly 80%.

That’s measurable progress and lives saved. Wow, just wow.

*U.S. rates of moderate to severe cervical precancers (CIN2+ and CIN3+) declined sharply from 2008 to 2022 among women 20 to 24 — the first generation routinely vaccinated against HPV.*

We Know It Hasn’t Always Been Easy

From the beginning, you carried more than a syringe and a schedule. You carried stigma — something anyone affected by a below-the-belt cancer understands all too well.

Because HPV is transmitted through intimate contact, conversations about the vaccine have often been wrapped up in discomfort, misinformation, and politics. Some struggle discussing a sexually transmitted virus with preteens. Others falsely claim you’re a “permission slip” for promiscuity.

At the recent 2026 Cervical Cancer Summit — while unpacking your complicated history — Chief Medical Officer of the Association of Immunization Managers Michelle Fiscus, MD, FAAP, shared an old cartoon poking fun at the promiscuity myth. It showed a young girl receiving the HPV vaccine and saying, “I am so turned on right now.” The joke landed because the premise was so absurd.

A vaccine does not change a child’s values or lifestyle choices. It reduces their risk of cancer. Full stop.

*At the 2026 Summit, Association of Immunization Managers CMO Michelle Fiscus emphasized that “misinformation remains one of our biggest barriers,” calling the promiscuity myth “farcical.”*

In Case You Need to Hear This

Progress hasn’t been perfect — but that’s not on you.

Vaccination rates vary widely by region and community. In the U.S., HPV vaccination coverage among adolescents continues to improve, but it still trails other routine adolescent vaccines like Tdap and meningococcal, according to the CDC. Research shows that a strong provider recommendation is one of the biggest factors in increasing HPV vaccination.

Globally, cervical cancer disproportionately affects women in low- and middle-income countries, where access to both vaccination and screening can be limited. The WHO’s strategy to eliminate the disease as a public health problem calls for 90% of girls to be fully vaccinated against HPV by age 15.

It’s simple math: The more people who receive you, the more lives will be saved from HPV-related cancers — which is why we’re your hype girl today and every day.

*For HPV Day, the IPVS shares a message of unity.*

Keep On Keeping On!

HPV vaccine, you have given us a tool that previous generations couldn’t even dream of.

Twenty years ago, approving the first HPV vaccine was an act of scientific courage and public health ambition. Today, the challenge is simpler — and harder. We have to use it.

Reflecting on the momentum of the first National HPV Conference last April, Cervivor Founder and Chief Visionary Tamika Felder said, “Knowledge is power, but this is just the start. Preventable cancers like cervical cancer are on the rise because of complacency, stigma, and misinformation. The time to prevent suffering — and save lives from cervical and other HPV-related cancers — is now.”

Your moment is now.

Happy 20th birthday to a vaccine that prevents cancer.

Here’s to a future when a cervical cancer diagnosis or, worse, a death is ancient history.

P.S. Congratulations to the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program on five years of saving lives by increasing HPV vaccination rates! We couldn’t be prouder to call you a partner.

About the Author

SARA LYLE-INGERSOLL is a content and communications expert dedicated to transforming lived experiences into impactful stories. Her award-winning magazine feature about a close friend who passed from cervical cancer in their twenties led her to connect with Cervivor’s founder, Tamika Felder, and solidified her commitment to cervical cancer awareness and prevention. Now, as Cervivor’s Communications Director, Sara brings this mission full circle.

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20 Years Later: Celebrating the HPV Vaccine — and the Work Still Ahead