Most Americans think cancer will be curable within the next twenty-five years. What they may not know is that the risk for certain cancers can be reduced today. Worldwide vaccination against the human papillomavirus HPV can greatly reduce the incidence of several cancers, especially cervical cancer and oropharyngeal cancer. To that end, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says all boys and girls should be vaccinated around age eleven or twelve. Unfortunately, only about thirty-six percent of girls and fourteen percent of boys have been protected so far. To reduce the spread of HPV, the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends three things: increased education for health care professionals, health policymakers and parents; better access to routine HPV vaccinations; and research on the most effective ways to raise vaccination rates. To learn more about preventing cancer with HPV vaccinations, visit cancer.net/HPV.