HPV is the virus that causes the most cancer in the world, says expert

O HPV (human papillomavirus) infects approximately 700 thousand people per year , according to an estimate from the Ministry of Health. Infection with the virus does not usually cause symptoms in most people, making it difficult to identify and raising awareness of diseases that can be caused by it, such as cancer. Therefore, the topic will be discussed in the next episode of “CNN Vital Signs – Dr. Kalil Interview “, which will air on Saturday (6).

In this week's program, the dr. Roberto Kalil receives doctors Marianne Pinotti gynecologist and mastologist, and Miriam Dal Ben infectious disease specialist at Hospital Sírio-Libanês, to explain everything about HPV, its effects, transmission, symptoms and treatment.

There are more than 200 types of HPV, but only a few of them worry experts because they can cause serious consequences that could easily be avoided. The main and best-known effect of the virus is cancer, which can often appear years after the person contracts the virus.

“HPV is the virus that causes the most cancer in the world,” explains Pinotti. According to the specialist, the most common is cervical cancer. “The natural history of the HPV virus is that the girl catches this virus when she begins her sexual life, which today is between 12, 14, 15 years old, and she develops the precursor lesions, without treatment, without having a pap smear, and then she will die tragically at the age of 30. It’s a disease of young women,” she adds.

Cervical cancer is the second most incident in women , with more than 850 thousand new cases per year, worldwide, according to INCA (National Cancer Institute). “In Brazil, there are 17 thousand cases per year, and more than 7 thousand deaths”.

However, HPV can also cause other types of cancer, such as anal cancer, penile cancer and oropharyngeal cancer – the latter being more common in men. According to Pinotti, of every ten cases of throat cancer caused by HPV, seven are in men.

The main prevention is the vaccine

The new episode of “CNN Vital Signs – Dr. Kalil Interview” will also address the importance of vaccination. According to infectologist Mirian Dal Ben, the vaccine is essential to prevent HPV . “I think the main prevention we need to talk about here is the vaccine,” she says.

The vaccine has been available in the SUS for 10 years, but this week the Ministry of Health announced that it will now be given in a single dose, and no longer in two doses, which could help increase vaccination coverage. Today, the SUS includes boys and girls aged 9 to 14, people aged 9 to 45 who are immunosuppressed, have HIV or have transplants, as well as victims of sexual abuse.

Faced with this scenario, doctors reinforce: the sooner you get vaccinated, the greater the protection. Therefore, immunization is essential.

“CNN Vital Signs – Dr. Kalil Interview” will air on Saturday, April 6, at 7:30 pm, on CNN Brasil.