HPV-Associated Cancers Diagnosis by Age

Cervical cancer is usually diagnosed at younger ages than other HPV-associated cancers. HPV-associated anal and oropharyngeal cancers generally are diagnosed at slightly younger ages in men than in women.

The median age at diagnosis (the age at which half of cancer patients were older and half were younger), is—

48 years for HPV-associated cervical cancer.
66 for HPV-associated vulvar cancer.
69 for HPV-associated vaginal cancer.
68 for HPV-associated penile cancer.
60 among women and 56 among men for HPV-associated anal cancer.
61 among women and 58 among men for HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancers.

Rates of HPV-Associated Cancers and Median Age at Diagnosis Among Women in the United States, 2004–2008

Line chart showing the median age at diagnosis for HPV-associated cancers among women.

*The vaginal cancer statistic for women between the ages of 20 and 39 is not shown because there were fewer than 16 cases.

The chart above shows that the median age at diagnosis (the age at which half were older and half were younger), is 48 years for HPV-associated cervical cancer, 66 for HPV-associated vulvar cancer, 69 for HPV-associated vaginal cancer, 60 among women for HPV-associated anal cancer, and 61 among women for HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancers.

Rates of HPV-Associated Cancers and Median Age at Diagnosis Among Men in the United States, 2004–2008

Chart showing the median age at diagnosis for HPV-associated cancers among men.

The chart above shows that the median age at diagnosis (the age at which half were older and half were younger), is 68 for HPV-associated penile cancer, 56 among men for HPV-associated anal cancer, and 58 among men for HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancers.

*Not all cancers of the oropharynx were included. A smaller group of cancers in specific areas often associated with HPV were included. All cancers were limited to cell types most likely to be HPV-associated.

This graph was adapted from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Human papillomavirus–associated cancers—United States, 2004–2008. MMWR 2012;61(15):258–261.