On the Path to Prevention from the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program June 2022

June 2022

In this Issue:

June is National Cancer Survivor Month and Men’s Health Month
HPV Cancer Survivor Spotlight: Michael West
Get a Jump on Back to School
Path to Prevention: State HPV Cancer Prevention Data Profiles
Using Social Media to Create Impact Around HPV Vaccination
Cervical Cancer Survivor Receives Donated Embryos
National HPV Vaccination Roundtable: Starting at Age 9 Resources
Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics
Path to a Bright Future Campaign Partners
Current and Upcoming Events
Join the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program: Postdoctoral Position Available
Summertime Fun in June!
Join Us on a Path to a Bright Future
Get Free St. Jude HPV Education Materials
Access Previous Versions of the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program Monthly E-newsletter

June marks the official start of summertime. This is a great time to get back on track with vaccinations that may have been missed over the last 2 years and also get those for which a child is due for the upcoming school year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has launched “Let’s Play Catch Up” on routine vaccinations to support efforts that support receipt of recommended vaccinations. A recent webinar hosted by Vaccinate Your Family included information on how many doses of routinely recommended vaccinations have been missed as a result of the pandemic. One study showed more than 10 million doses of adolescent vaccinations, including HPV, had been missed. We do not want children to miss out on this cancer prevention vaccination.

Recently, the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program launched Path to a Bright Future to promote HPV vaccination by the 13th birthday. With more than 120 organizational and individual campaign partners, we are focused on ending HPV cancers for everyone. We hope you will consider joining us. We look forward to releasing additional tools for our campaign partners soon.

HPV vaccination is cancer prevention.

Each June, in addition to Father’s Day, the end of the school year and the start of summer, we recognize National Cancer Survivor Month and Men’s Health Month.

At St. Jude, our mission is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Since our opening more than 60 years ago, treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80%.

While we are proud of our success in treating childhood cancer, we are equally proud and excited about our efforts to prevent cancer with Path to a Bright Future, our public awareness campaign highlighting the cancer-prevention benefits of on-time HPV vaccination for children 9–12.

Men’s Health Month brings awareness to the importance of health care for men and boys—encouraging healthy living decisions, such as exercising, eating healthy, and making preventive health care and screenings a priority.

Often left out of discussions about preventive care for men and boys is the importance of HPV vaccination. A longstanding misperception about HPV is that it primarily affects women and girls; in reality, men and boys can be infected with HPV; affected by the resulting anal, penile, and oral/throat cancers; and pass HPV on to female partners. Oral cancers caused by HPV now surpass cervical cancers in the U.S., overwhelmingly among men.

Fortunately, we have a safe and effective vaccine that provides long-lasting protection against HPV cancers in men, women, boys, and girls. At St. Jude, we recommend HPV vaccination for everyone ages 9–26, some people aged 27–45, and especially childhood cancer survivors, who are at higher risk to develop second cancers.

Some cancer survivors are at risk for developing second cancers in their lifetimes, and long-term survivors of pediatric and young adult cancers have an increased risk for developing HPV cancers, often due to previous cancer treatment. These cancers include mouth and throat, anal, vulvar and vaginal cancers. Thankfully, HPV vaccination can prevent more than 90% of cancers caused by HPV.

Please join us this month as we recognize and celebrate those who have bravely fought cancer and those currently in treatment, and the importance of healthy living and preventive care for the men and boys in our lives.

Michael West is a husband, father of 2, attorney, and a survivor of stage 4 oropharyngeal cancer. About 70% of these cancers, which occur in the back of the throat and at the base of the tonsils, are caused by HPV. More oropharyngeal cancers are diagnosed each year in the U.S. than cervical cancers. About 17,000 men are found to have HPV oropharyngeal cancers each year—and 83% of oropharyngeal cancers are diagnosed among men.

At age 49, West discovered a small lump on the side of his throat and assumed it was a cyst or swollen lymph nodes. Normally, he would not have thought much about the lump since he is a non-smoker and in excellent health. West decided to get it checked by a medical professional. After a series of exams, biopsies, and scans, he learned that he had HPV-attributed (Type 16) oropharyngeal cancer. Read his inspiring story.

The key to HPV cancer prevention is on-time vaccination at age 11–12 and beginning at age 9. HPV vaccination can contribute significantly to the decrease of HPV cancers, including oropharyngeal cancers. According to JAMA Oncology, HPV vaccination will help prevent oropharyngeal cancers in the 36- to 45-year-old age group. However, we may not see a significant reduction in the total number of these cancers until 2045. This is due to a lack of vaccination opportunities for those ages 55 and older.

Experts estimate that between 2020 and 2045, HPV vaccination will prevent more than 6,300 oropharyngeal cancers, with 88% of those cases in people younger than 55. Get children vaccinated today to prevent these and all other HPV cancers.

Get a Jump on Back to School

As summer begins, it is time to consider well-child visits and recommended vaccinations. Getting children and adolescents caught up with recommended vaccinations is the best way to protect them from a variety of vaccine-preventable diseases.

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program is teaming up with the Shelby County Health Department, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, Memphis-Shelby County Schools, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, and Memphis Area Transit Authority for the 2022 Back-to-School Immunization Drive. Required children’s vaccines will be offered at no cost to anyone interested in receiving them.

Sign up for an appointment time at www.lebonheur.org/vaccines or simply walk-in for the first available appointment.

Children and adults can also get free COVID-19 vaccines at these events. Children 5–11 are eligible to receive the COVID-19 pediatric vaccine (Pfizer). Parents, eligible siblings, and other family members may receive first, second and booster doses. Learn more about these events.

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Path to Prevention: State HPV Cancer Prevention Data Profiles

Access Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee State HPV Cancer Prevention Data Profiles at stjude.org/hpv

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program has created HPV cancer prevention data profiles for Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee. The state data profiles are an important tool that offer consolidated, at-a-glance look at HPV vaccination coverage and HPV cancers. Also included are state-specific opportunities and recommended actions.

We welcome your thoughts on the data profiles. Email PreventHPV@stjude.org to share your impressions, extra content we could add to the profiles, and possible uses of this resource. Be on the lookout for HPV Cancer Prevention data profiles for other states.

Check out the 4 state profiles now available on St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention:

To have copies mailed to you, email PreventHPV@stjude.org.

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Using Social Media to Create Impact Around HPV Vaccination

Social media can be a valuable communication strategy to broaden knowledge.

Recently, the Memphis and Shelby County HPV Cancer Prevention Roundtable hosted a virtual seminar, “Using Social Media to Create Impact Around HPV Vaccination.” Social media content experts Katharine Head, PhD, Sarah Tanksley, and Elise Vance discussed how an effective social media campaign reaches more people and offers the opportunity for more HPV vaccination among adolescents.

Here are 3 tools to help combat vaccine misinformation and disinformation on social media:
The U.S. Surgeon General’s office created A Community Toolkit for Addressing Health Misinformation to help combat conflicting health information.
Rural areas of Tennessee use Addressing Vaccination Hesitancy Toolkit.
For guidance on how to prepare for anti-vaccination attacks, access the Shots Heard Round the World Toolkit.

View the online seminar.

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Cervical Cancer Survivor Receives Donated Embryos

Tamika Felder, chief visionary of Cervivor, was diagnosed with cervical cancer at age 25. She was unable to have children due to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Over the past 20 years, Felder has shared her story with other cancer survivors. She often speaks about burying her hope of having kids.

Recently, Felder’s connections gave her a life-changing gift—donated embryos and a surrogate to carry the child. "It was the most personal and beautiful gift I've ever been given," Felder said. "At that moment, I've never felt more loved." Read Felder’s story. She and the entire Cervivor team are great partners of the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program. Join us in extending congratulations to Felder and her family.

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National HPV Vaccination Roundtable: Starting at Age 9 Resources

Giving a strong recommendation for HPV vaccination at age 9 will increase vaccine completion success and prevent more cancers. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) support vaccination starting at age 9. The ACIP, CDC, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Cancer Society, and the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable all agree that HPV vaccination starts at age 9.

Visit the “Start at Age 9” web page to access:

Core messages
A communication toolbox for provider and health systems, advocacy groups, parents, and local and state health departments
Social media messages to boost HPV vaccination rates

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Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program has joined the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable and American Cancer Society to support a special issue of Human Vaccines & Immunotherapeutics focusing on HPV vaccination before age 11.

This issue explores evidence on whether initiation of the HPV vaccine series prior to age 11 provides benefits in terms of population coverage and/or timely completion of the series.

We are soliciting papers that:

Compare vaccination coverage and/or completion rates by age at vaccination
Describe implementation or quality improvement initiatives that involve lowering the age at which vaccination is routinely recommended
Offer parent or health care provider experiences with HPV vaccine series initiation before age 11

This special issue is being edited by Rebecca Perkins, MD; Sharon Humiston, MD; and Kristin Oliver, MD. The deadline for submissions is August 1, 2022. Learn more.

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Path to a Bright Future Campaign Partner

Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority
Founded at Freedman’s Hospital in Washington DC, Chi Eta Phi Sorority Inc. has created opportunities for thousands of nurses since 1932. The professional organization is keenly aware that their impact in health care promotion and disease prevention lay squarely on their ability to organize and collaborate with partners tied to a similar goal.

The Memphis chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority was among the initial signers of the Path to a Bright Future Campaign. These registered and student nurses stand in unison with over 120 local, state, and national organizations to get children vaccinated by their 13th birthday, normalize HPV vaccination as cancer prevention, and share the facts.

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program is pleased to have Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. as a campaign partner. Learn more about their organization.

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Current and Upcoming Events

Make an Impact, You Have the Power to Prevent HPV Cancers
The University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute is offering a free CME online credit course on the importance of the HPV vaccination through June 30. Training areas include:

Mandy & Jason: The Journeys of Two HPV- Cancer Survivors
COVID-19 and HPV Vaccination Challenges in the United States
Start HPV Vaccine at age 9 for Powerful Cancer Prevention
More Successful Strategies to improve HPV Vaccination Rates in Your Practice

Register today.

Missouri Immunization Conference
Registration is open for the Missouri Immunization Conference 2022!

The Missouri Immunization Conference 2022 is a virtual event happening June 20-23, 2022 and is comprised of daily lunch and learn sessions from 10:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. CDT. Continuing Education for healthcare providers is available. Registration is free for MIC members who are not pursuing continuing education credits. Members interested in pursuing continuing education credits receive a registration discount.

Advancing Progress in Cancer Prevention and Risk Reduction
June 27 and 28, the National Cancer Policy Forum will host a public hybrid workshop that will consider the current state of knowledge regarding risk factors for cancer and strategies for interventions across multiple levels to reduce cancer risk. For more information, visit the National Academies website. Register for the event.

National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships
The 15th National Conference for Immunization Coalitions and Partnerships (NCICP), formerly known as the National Conference on Immunization and Health Coalitions, is the only conference solely dedicated to collaboration and partnership as a way to improve immunization uptake, educate our communities, and prevent the spread of disease. The conference is an engine to improve immunizations and public health issues by sharing successful strategies that strengthen the work our coalitions and partnerships do.
Register today

Memphis and Shelby County HPV Roundtable Annual Meeting
The second annual meeting of the Memphis and Shelby County HPV Cancer Prevention Roundtable will be held September 21 from 8 a.m. to noon, followed by an in-person networking luncheon from noon to 1 p.m. This hybrid event will have in-person and virtual options. To receive more information when available, email PreventHPV@stjude.org.

National HPV Vaccination Roundtable National Meeting

Step up to the plate and vax like a champion at the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable 2022 National Meeting. Make plans to attend September 28–29. The event will feature an all-star lineup of inspiring speakers to help your team improve HPV vaccination. Join virtually from anywhere in the world. It’s free to attend. Learn more. Join the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable’s mailing list to get into the starting lineup.

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Join the St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program:
Postdoctoral Position Available

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program focuses on increasing HPV vaccination and preventing HPV cancers. We have an opportunity for someone with exceptional talent to join our team. We will hire one postdoctoral fellow who understands and shares the objectives and impetus for St. Jude and our program and will continue to develop their own research programs. Apply here, or share the link with those who may be an exceptional fit for our team. For more information, visit stjude.org/hpv or email PreventHPV@stjude.org.

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Summertime Fun in June

What kinds of things did you do during the summer growing up?

“My favorite cousin would spend every summer with us. She and I would spend time learning to garden with our grandmother, playing for hours with the neighborhood kids, and learning to braid one another's hair.” – Andrea Stubbs, administrative director

“When my father played golf on Sundays, he would take us and our friends to the park to play and swim. Afterwards, he would buy everybody ice cream. Our friends always seemed ready to go.” – Carol Minor, program coordinator

“I spent some summers with my family in Kansas City, Missouri, taking swimming lessons and visiting the zoo, parks and museums. I spent other summers in my hometown in Mississippi climbing trees, swinging on the tire swing, and drinking from the water hose.” – Julia Neely, program coordinator

“Every summer I went to summer camp provided by the City of Memphis, bowling, swimming, skating and participating in outdoor sports.” – Brooke Morgan, program coordinator

“I remember spending the summer with my brother and cousins. My grandmother would think of creative games to keep us outside all day. There was never a dull moment.” – Portia Knowlton, program coordinator

“Most of my summers consisted of trips to my homeland, Sudan, where I enjoyed time with family and friends. My favorite memory is drinking tea and coffee by the Nile River.” – Duha, Magzoub, graduate student assistant

“During the summer we visited my grandparents in Mississippi. At my maternal grandparents’ house, we would walk to get ice cream. At my paternal grandfather’s house, we played outside and picked peaches and pears from trees that grew on his property.” – Ursula Leflore, administrative specialist

“When I was younger, I remember spending a lot of time at the community swimming pool and playing softball in the community recreation league. I also rode my bicycle all over town to meet up with friends.” – Heather Brandt, director

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Join Us on a Path to a Bright Future

The St. Jude HPV Cancer Prevention Program’s Path to a Bright Future campaign spotlights the benefits of on-time HPV vaccination to prevent cancer in children ages 9–12. The campaign also raises awareness of the dangers of HPV pre-cancers and cancers.

Join us:

Get your child vaccinated against HPV by their 13th birthday: If you or your child is in the recommended age range (ages 9-26 and possibly until age 45), get vaccinated.
Encourage others to get their children vaccinated: Normalize HPV vaccination as cancer prevention
Share the facts: HPV vaccination is safe, effective and durable. It prevents 6 types of cancer.

Learn more and join the campaign