HPV-related head and neck cancers tend to affect the oropharynx (mostly the back of the tongue, tonsils, and side and back of the throat). Data from the National Cancer Institute tell us there are about 13,000 oropharyngeal cancers each year in the U.S., 60%-70% of which appear to be caused by one HPV type, HPV 16. As is the case with cervical cancer, oropharyngeal tumors caught early are highly treatable and those caused by HPV have a high survival rate.