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

At Cervivor, Inc., every month is Women’s Health Month. But this May, we’re taking the opportunity to spotlight a critical public health issue that disproportionately impacts women: HPV-related cancers. 

HPV, or human papillomavirus, is an extremely common virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 85% of people will be exposed to the virus at some point in their lives. While many HPV strains are essentially harmless, high-risk strains are responsible for more than 37,000 new cancer cases each year in the U.S., including about 21,800 cases in women and 16,000 in men. 

These cancers include vaginal, vulvar, anal, oropharyngeal, penile, and cervical cancer—what Cervivor is dedicated to eliminating. Cervical cancer remains the most common HPV-related cancer in women, with more than 11,000 new cases diagnosed annually.

The good news? Nearly all HPV-related cancers are preventable with tools like vaccination, regular checkups, and early treatment. Just last month, National Cancer Institute researchers reported “phenomenal” new data that a single dose of the HPV vaccine is just as effective as the two doses currently recommended for people aged 9 to 25!

This recent CDC infographic illustrates how effective the HPV vaccine can be in preventing over 90% of related cancers including cervical cancer.

“Knowledge is power—but it’s only the start,” says Tamika Felder, Cervivor’s Founder and Chief Visionary. “Preventable cancers like cervical cancer are on the rise because of complacency, stigma, and misinformation. Up-to-date cervical screenings have dropped over the past two decades, and HPV vaccine uptake was ‘flat’ from 2021 to 2023,” she says, citing an alarming recent report from the American Cancer Society. “The time to prevent suffering—and save lives from cervical and other HPV-related cancers—is now.”

The National HPV Conference: A Gathering of the Minds

Fortunately, Tamika and Cervivor aren’t the only ones prioritizing women’s health and tackling the ongoing challenges of HPV-related diseases. Over 400 attendees gathered with the same mission at the recent National HPV Conference in Indianapolis from April 15 to 17, 2025. Bringing together leading experts, healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, and survivors, the conference aimed to facilitate networking, collaboration, and resource sharing like “never done before” in the U.S. 

The National HPV Conference unites leaders toward their shared mission.

Representing Cervivor, Tamika took part in a panel discussion moderated by Dr. Rachel Katzenellenbogen and included other HPV cancer and disease survivors, including recurrent respiratory papillomatosis survivor, Kim McClellan, anal cancer survivor Lillian Kreppel and tonsil cancer survivor Jason Mendelsohn, that underscored the human impact of HPV-related cancers. Later, she and Community Engagement Liaison, Morgan Newman, MSW—a metastatic and recurrent cervical cancer survivor—co-presented with leading global expert and author Dr. Linda Eckert in a session titled “Beyond the Data,” highlighting the power of personal narratives in advocacy.

Cervivor’s founder, Tamika, shared her experience and expertise alongside other HPV cancer survivors, emphasizing the importance of the patient voice.

A few other program highlights from the National HPV Conference: 

  • Keynote Addresses: Dr. Susan Vadaparampil, Associate Center Director of Community Outreach, Engagement, and Equity at Moffitt Cancer Center, delivered a keynote about the importance of advocacy and gave a special shoutout to the Cervivor community. Dr. Michelle Fiscus, Chief Medical Officer for the Association of Immunization Managers and Co-Chair of the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable, also gave a dynamic presentation on the current state of vaccination.
  • Policy and Advocacy Discussions: Dr. Heather Brandt, Director of the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program, alongside Martha Nolan, Senior Policy Advisor at HealthyWomen, highlighted the critical role of legislative action and community engagement in HPV prevention efforts.
  • Storytelling Session: Sally Perkins, a professional storyteller and cancer survivor, demonstrated the transformative power of storytelling in advocacy.

What’s Next: Challenges and Opportunities

“HPV-related cancers are still a greater threat in the developing world, but it’s alarming that preventable cancers are increasing here in the U.S.—especially as funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other public and private sources shrinks,” shares Morgan. 

Cervivor Morgan Newman at National HPV Conference
Cervivor’s Community Engagement Liaison Morgan explained how personal narratives can change minds.

Fresh from the National HPV Conference, Morgan outlines several pressing challenges facing the HPV prevention movement:

Vaccine Hesitancy: Despite strong scientific evidence that the HPV vaccine is both safe and effective—and promising news that a single dose may be enough in the future—misinformation and mistrust persist. Disinformation campaigns and cultural stigmas around vaccines continue to suppress vaccination rates, particularly in vulnerable communities. 

Policy and Funding: Sustained progress in HPV prevention relies heavily on legislative support and adequate funding. Cuts to public health budgets and shifting policy priorities threaten access to the HPV vaccine, routine screenings, and treatment services—especially in underserved areas. 

Healthcare Access: Longstanding disparities in healthcare access, insurance coverage, and provider availability mean that too many people—especially in rural, low-income, and marginalized communities—still face barriers to prevention and early detection. Expanding equitable access to care remains a critical need. 

Cervivor’s Response: Advocacy in Action

These challenges fuel our ongoing commitment to protect every person with a cervix from HPV-related cancers. Here’s how Cervivor is responding:

Cervivor School 2024 Graduates and Team Cervivor
Cervivor’s commitment to HPV prevention advocacy includes organizing the annual Cervivor School, where patients and survivors are equipped with the knowledge and tools to advocate for better women’s health care. Shown here is the graduating class of the 2024 school.
  • Enhanced Education Campaigns: Cervivor is tackling vaccine hesitancy through culturally relevant messaging and resources via initiatives such as the Cervical Cancer Summit and Cervivor School, which aims to equip participants with the knowledge and confidence to advocate for HPV prevention within their communities.
  • Empowering Survivors: Through our growing collection of Cervivor Stories, we amplify the lived experiences of patients and survivors to raise awareness, break stigma, and drive meaningful change.
  • Advocacy and Policy Engagement: Members of Cervivor’s team and community proudly contribute to national coalitions including the National HPV Roundtable, National Roundtable on Cervical Cancer, HealthyWomen HPV Coalition, HPV Cancers Alliance, and the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program, helping shape policies that support prevention, access, and care.
  • Addressing Disparities: Through grassroots, community-led conversations like DEI MeetUps, Black Cervix Chat, Cervivor Español, and international groups like Cervivor Africa and Cervivor Caribbean, we’re ensuring underrepresented voices are heard. (Visit our Events to see if there is a meetup or group that you’d like to join.) We also serve on advisory boards and research committees, championing patient advocacy in clinical trials, screening, and vaccination efforts. 

This Women’s Health Month, we urge our Cervivor community and its allies to recommit to action. Preventable HPV-related cancers shouldn’t still be claiming lives. While cancer doesn’t discriminate, the systems surrounding it often do. It’s time to break down the barriers that stand in the way of prevention, early detection, and treatment.

If you believe in Cervivor’s mission to end cervical cancer and ensure that no one has to face it alone, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution today. Your support helps us continue our lifesaving work.

Eliminating Cervical Cancer: A Call to Action for Health Equity and Access

This April, as we mark both National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month and Minority Cancer Awareness Month, Cervivor, Inc. is doubling down on its pledge to dismantle barriers in cervical cancer care.

Rather than focusing on “minority” health, however, we’re shifting the focus to health equity. Our mission is to ensure that every individual – regardless of race, ethnicity, income, or zip code – has access to life-saving treatment, survivorship resources, and education. 

A Call to Action 

On Tuesday, March 26th, Cervivor’s Founder and Chief Visionary Tamika Felder addressed attendees at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s HPV Policy Symposium about the devastating impact cervical cancer has on us individually, nationally, and globally. This preventable disease has claimed too many lives and altered countless others.

But we have the power to change this narrative. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, along with screening and diagnostic tests, are groundbreaking tools in our mission to eliminate cervical cancer – and we’re committed to making them accessible to all.

“Every patient, every voice, and every cervix matters. Prevention is available, and we can make a difference,” Tamika said at the symposium. “Together, we can create a future where no one has to suffer from this preventable disease. It’s time to push the needle even further and end cervical cancer once and for all. We need to double down on safety, efficacy, and promotion of vaccination. Preserve access to screening, diagnostic, and treatment care – it’s the only way we can achieve elimination.”

The Road to Success

Achieving a future free from cervical cancer requires addressing systemic barriers that prevent marginalized communities from accessing life-saving care. At Cervivor, equity is a core value driving our purpose. We recognize that disparities in healthcare access and outcomes hinder progress against this preventable disease. What can we do to help?

  • Education and Awareness: Counter mis/disinformation and rumors surrounding HPV vaccination and cervical cancer prevention. Ensure that accurate and culturally sensitive information reaches all communities. Utilize trusted partners in purpose like the National HPV Roundtable, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), and Vaccinate for Your Family.
  • Access to Care: Advocate for policies that protect, preserve, and expand access to HPV cancer prevention care, including vaccination, screening, and early detection. Ensure that treatment and survivorship care services are available and affordable for all. Join nonpartisan organizations like the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACSCAN), Prevent Cancer Foundation, and the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
  • Making Screenings and Vaccinations Widely Available: Increase the availability of screenings and vaccinations in underserved areas, making it easier (not harder) for individuals to take control of their health through mobile clinics, community health centers, work and school-based programs, and pharmacies with expanded services. Addressing barriers such as transportation, finances, language, and cultural competence, plus increasing awareness and education through community outreach, too!

Remembering and Honoring those Impacted 

As we push toward the goal to eliminate cervical cancer, we remember the lives that have been lost and the voices who demand to be heard.

Laura Brennan: A Voice for HPV Vaccination

Laura Brennan‘s courage and resilience in the face of cervical cancer continue to inspire us. The young Irish woman’s life was tragically cut short, but her story serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for collective action to prevent others from the same fate.

Dr. Nina Rickenbacker Edwards: A Passionate Advocate for Awareness

Dr. Nina Rickenbacker Edwards‘ life was forever changed when her daughter, Teolita, was diagnosed with stage IV cervical cancer. Nina became a passionate advocate for cervical cancer awareness and dedicated herself to educating others about the importance of prevention. Through her tireless efforts, Nina honors Teolita’s memory and inspires others to take action to end cervical cancer.

Joey Feek: Country Singer Silenced by Cervical Cancer

The world mourned the loss of country music singer Joey Feek, who passed away from cervical cancer in 2016. Feek’s life and career serve as a testament to the profound impact cervical cancer can have on individuals, families, and communities. 

The Time is Now!

To eliminate cervical cancer, we must confront the systemic barriers, inequities, and injustices that have allowed this preventable disease to persist. In recognition of National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Month and Minority Cancer Awareness Month – and as Cervivor marks its 20th year – we’re calling on our community to support our Tell 20, Give 20 awareness and fundraising campaign. A donation of just $20 can help us continue to “push the needle” toward ending cervical cancer once and for all.