08/27/2026
Jen Carlson remembers the moment her family’s life changed forever: when her husband, Rick, was diagnosed with cancer. After over 20 years together, they had built a full life—but in early 2018, Rick noticed a small cut on the inside of his mouth that wouldn’t heal.
By July 2018, doctors confirmed it was tonsil cancer caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV can lead to at least six types of cancer, most commonly cervical and a**l cancer.
After Rick passed in 2019, Jen couldn’t help but wonder: if he had been vaccinated against HPV, would things have been different? Now, she and her daughter are sharing Rick’s story to help others understand the importance of HPV vaccination—and the need to pay attention to symptoms that could signal cancer.
Read more about Rick’s story at the link in the comments.