HPV vaccine, Gardasil®, approved for prevention of anal cancer.

About 90% of anal cancer cases are caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), the same virus that causes cervical cancer and head/neck cancers. The FDA has approved the use of Gardasil®, a vaccine that prevents infection with HPV, for the prevention of anal cancer.  Men and women aged 9-26 are eligible to receive the vaccine.