How HPV Causes Cancer

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is incredibly common—most adults will be exposed to it at some point in their lives. In most cases, the virus clears on its own without causing any problems. But sometimes, certain high-risk strains of HPV can linger in the body. When that happens, the virus can begin to interfere with the normal way cells grow and repair themselves.

Here’s what that means in plain English:

For oropharyngeal cancer, the virus typically reaches the tissues in the back of the throat—such as the tonsils or the base of the tongue.

The body usually wipes out HPV naturally. No symptoms, no illness, nothing to worry about.

If HPV doesn’t clear, it can stay inside the cells and begin altering how those cells work. This isn’t immediate—changes happen slowly over many years.

Healthy cells have built-in systems that tell them when to grow, when to stop, and when to repair damage.
High-risk HPV strains can interfere with these controls by producing proteins that:

• Turn off the cell’s tumor-suppressing functions
• Prevent damaged cells from dying when they should
• Encourage abnormal cell growth
   

These changes accumulate. What begins as a persistent viral infection can, years later, develop into precancerous changes—and eventually, cancer.

HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer is now one of the fastest-growing cancer types among men. Understanding how HPV works isn’t about blame—it's about awareness. Early recognition, early testing, and early treatment save lives.

HPV doesn’t cause cancer immediately.
It causes slow, silent changes in the cells of the throat that can build up over time.

Knowing this helps men understand the risk, the importance of monitoring symptoms, and why open conversations about HPV are essential—not awkward.