HPV prevention has become a concern for both men and women. Receiving an HPV vaccine before becoming sexually active is the leading way to prevent the disease. Vaccines have been approved and recommended for teen girls since 2006, but less than a third of all teenage girls have completed the three doses by 2010. Vaccines were just recommended for teen boys last year so statistics are unavailable.

The study found men are more likely than women to contract HPV oral cancer and women are at higher risk for HPV anal cancer. HPV causes over a third of penile cancers, two-thirds of oral cancers and over 90% of anal cancers.

Read the full WebMD article.

• Don’t use tobacco in any form. If you smoke, quit immediately. If you don’t smoke, don’t start. Quitting smoking can be very difficult, so get some help. Your doctor can discuss the benefits and risks of the many stop-smoking strategies, such as medication, nicotine replacement products and counseling.
• Drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all. For women, this means one drink a day. For men, moderate drinking means no more than two drinks a day.
• Choose a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables. The vitamins and antioxidants in fruits and vegetables may reduce your risk of throat cancer. Eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables daily.
• Get checked. Have an annual oral cancer screening by your dentist or health care professional.
• Use caution around chemicals. When working with chemicals, whether on the job or around your house, carefully follow the directions. Avoid breathing hazardous chemical fumes. Properly ventilate the room where you’re working and wear a mask over your nose and mouth. (Mayo Clinic)

For more information about how to reduce your cancer risk, please visit preventcancer.org.