global view constructed of white lines
Blog
ThinkNeuro Podcast, Dr Vivian Wu
April 23, 2025

64. A Multitude of Treatment Options for Head and Neck Cancer | Dr. Vivian Wu

by Anthony Effinger

The Think Neuro podcast from Pacific Neuroscience Institute takes you into the clinic, operating room and laboratory with doctors and surgeons who are tackling the most challenging brain diseases and disorders. Host: Anthony Effinger

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Simplecast

Watch on YouTube: Click Here

Human Papillomavirus, or HPV, is a virus that infects the skin and wet surfaces of the body. It’s a disease that’s commonly spread through sexual activity, and over 80% of people will get it at some point in their lifetime. HPV is an endemic disease, which, in epidemiology, means that it is constantly present in a particular population. While most people recover from HPV, there can be complications. It is responsible for more than 90% of anal and cervical cancers and can also cause oropharyngeal cancer. Dr. Wu, a board-certified otolaryngologist, specializes in head and neck surgical oncology. Diseases like HPV and cancers that affect the head and neck are what she sees most in her patients. Working closely with other multispecialty experts at PNI, Dr. Wu is committed to guiding her patients through their cancer journeys. Listen in.

About Dr. Vivian Wu

Dr Vivian Wu

Vivian F. Wu, MD, MPH, is a surgeon-scientist specializing in all cancers of the head and neck, including those of the tongue, throat, voice box, thyroid, skin, and salivary glands. She is the Director of the Head and Neck Cancer Center of Excellence at Saint John’s Cancer Institute and Pacific Neuroscience Institute (PNI).

> Check Out More Think Neuro Podcast Episodes

About the Author

Anthony Effinger

Anthony Effinger

Think Neuro's host is Anthony Effinger, an award-winning journalist who is fascinated with neuroscience and the workings of the brain. Anthony spent 24 years at Bloomberg News, where he covered all aspects of finance, with forays into science and health. In 2006, the Association of Health Care Journalists awarded him first prize for Playing the Odds, an in-depth piece on the changing strategies used to treat prostate cancer. These days, he is a staff writer at Willamette Week, a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper in Portland, Oregon, where he lives with his wife and two children.

Last updated: October 28th, 2025