ORAL sex can lead to throat cancer, say US
scientists. 11 April
2009
ORAL sex can lead to throat cancer, say US scientists.
A study conducted by Johns Hopkins University has revealed that
the human papilloma virus (HPV) poses a greater risk in contracting
cancer than smoking or alcohol.
Oral sex is the main mode of HPV transmission.
And those who had already experienced a previous oral HPV
infection were 32 times more likely to develop cancer.
The American study of 300 people also found that that those with
more than six partners were almost nine times at greater risk of
contracting the disease.
During the study, men and women who had been recently diagnosed
with oropharyngeal cancer had blood and saliva samples taken and
were also asked about their sexual practices and family
history.
They found HPV16 - one of the most common cancer-causing strains
of the virus - was present in the tumours of 72 per cent of cancer
patients, reported the Daily Mail.
Scientists said the majority of HPV infections had no symptoms
and often did not require treatment.
But they also said a small percentage of those who contracted
high-risk strains may go on to develop cancer.
Study author Dr Gypsyamber D'Souza told the BBC: 'It is
important for health care providers to know that people without the
traditional risk factors of tobacco and alcohol use can
nevertheless be at risk of oropharyngeal cancer.'
Co-researcher Dr Maura Gillison said that oropharyngeal cancer
is still relatively uncommon and that most people who contracted
HPV probably wouldn't develop throat cancer.
Dr Julie Sharp, science information officer at Cancer Research
UK, said: 'As this was a small study, further research is needed to
confirm these observations.
'We know that after age, the main causes of mouth cancer are
smoking or chewing tobacco or betel nut, and drinking too much
alcohol.'