Chemo, surgery, radiation: What HPV vaccination could have prevented

To the editor: I was diagnosed with cervical cancer four years ago — and I can thank the human papillomavirus, or HPV, for it. (“Trust survivors: You do not want an HPV-caused cancer. Get vaccinated,” letters, Dec. 31)

I had a complete hysterectomy followed by a round of chemotherapy and radiation. Thankfully, the surgery and treatment were successful.

Turns out that the tenacious and pernicious virus is still in my system — so I get to be on the lookout for other scourges, including anal cancer.

I encourage anyone eligible for vaccination against HPV to get it.

J.A. Hutchinson, Los Angeles