Oral sex bigger cause of throat cancer than tobacco
February 21st, 2011 - 4:16 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Feb 21 (IANS) A virus spread during oral sex is the main cause of throat cancer in people under 50 years of age.Scientists say the human papilloma virus (HPV) spread during unprotected sex is to blame for a disturbing rise in potentially deadly oral cancers in the last few decades.
Doctors have called for boys to be vaccinated against HPV just like teenage girls to stop the spread of the disease.
HPV is best known as the cause of around 70 percent of cervical cancers. Since 2008, girls aged 12 and 13 have been vaccinated against the virus in schools. However, it can also cause warts and other cancers, the Daily Mail reports.
Cancers of the mouth and oropharynx - the top of the throat - used to be mainly diagnosed in older men who drink or smoke. But increasingly, it is being seen in younger men.
Maura Gillison of Ohio State University in Columbus said the sexually transmitted HPV was a bigger cause of some oral cancers than tobacco.
She said: “We don’t know from strict scientific evidence whether the vaccine will protect from oral HPV infections that lead to cancer,” according to a Ohio State University statement.
“Those of us in the field are optimistic it will - the vaccines in every anatomical site looked at so far have been shown to be extraordinarily effective, about 90 percent effective, at preventing infections.”
- Oral sex, not tobacco is 'main cause of throat cancer' - Feb 21, 2011
- Oral sex putting men at risk for throat cancer - Oct 21, 2010
- How virus triggers cervical and mouth cancer - Dec 15, 2010
- Vaccination can prevent cervical cancer deaths: Experts - Aug 07, 2012
- Shot for preventing genital warts works in men - Feb 06, 2011
- Circumcision Lowers HPV Risk In Women, Says Survey - Jan 08, 2011
- Oral sex, HPV puts non-smoking US men at highest risk for oral cancer - Apr 19, 2011
- HPV vaccine also works for boys: Study - Feb 05, 2011
- Circumcision Lowers Chances Of HPV Risk In Women, Study Says - Jan 09, 2011
- Twin viruses linked to prostate cancer - Aug 03, 2012
- Rise in mouth cancer cases in Britain due to oral sex - Mar 16, 2012
- BBC documentary to tackle oral sex cancer risk - Oct 17, 2010
- Widely used HIV drug could help prevent cervical cancer - May 04, 2011
- Mums play key role in convincing daughters to receive HPV vaccine - Jan 04, 2011
- Cervical cancer leading cancer-killer among Indian women - Mar 28, 2012
Tags: cervical cancers, daily mail, decades, hpv infections, human papilloma virus, london feb, mail reports, ohio state university, older men, oral cancers, oral sex, scientists, teenage girls, throat cancer, tobacco, unprotected sex, vaccinated, vaccines, warts, younger men