People who have had oral sex with six or more partners in their lifetime are almost 10 times more likely to develop throat cancer, a doctor has warned.
Dr. Hisham Mehanna, a cancer expert at the University of Birmingham, said that seven out of ten cases of throat cancer are caused by the HPV (human papillomavirus) virus.
This normally harmless virus is spread through sexual contact and has been linked to cellular changes that can lead to cancer.
Writing for The Conversation, Dr. Mehanna stated:
"Over the past two decades there has been a rapid increase in throat cancer cases in the West, so much so that some have called it an epidemic. This has been due to a large increase in a particular type of throat cancer called oropharyngeal cancer," she said. – reports GazetaExpress.
This is the most common type of throat cancer, appearing in the tonsils and back of the throat.
Doctors consider HPV infection to be the biggest risk factor for developing this disease – greater than smoking, alcohol, or an unhealthy diet.
"The most widely accepted theory is that most people who become infected with HPV clear the virus completely. However, a small number of people cannot clear the infection, perhaps because of a defect in the immune system. In these patients, the virus can replicate continuously and over time can cause cancerous transformations in cells," explained Dr. Mehanna.
He added that people with more oral sex partners have a higher risk of developing throat and mouth cancer.
"For oropharyngeal cancer, the main risk factor is the number of sexual partners in a lifetime, especially for oral sex," he said.
"Those who have had six or more oral sex partners in their lifetime are 8.5 times more likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer compared to those who do not practice oral sex."
In Britain, head and neck cancers – including throat cancer – are responsible for over 12,000 cases and 4,000 deaths each year.
In the US, over 50,000 cases of oral or oropharyngeal cancer are diagnosed each year, with over 10,000 deaths.
Statistics show that cases are increasing.
Official figures show that 3,834 new cases of oropharyngeal cancer were reported in England in 2019 - a 47% increase compared to 2013.
Other data shows that head and neck cancer cases have risen by over a third in Britain - with a notable increase among younger patients.
According to Cancer Research UK data, between 1993 and 2019, cases increased by 60% in women and by 34% in men aged 25–49.
This organization estimates that 73% of oropharyngeal cancer cases in Britain are caused by HPV.
HPV is a common virus that is spread through vaginal, anal, and oral sex with someone who is already infected.
About 8 out of 10 people will carry HPV in their body at some point in their lives, and approximately one-third of the population is infected at any one time.
There are over 150 types of HPV, but only about 12 are carcinogenic. Types 16 and 18 are the most dangerous for causing oropharyngeal cancer.
It is not clear whether oral sex on a woman is more risky for HPV transmission than on a man.
According to studies, the vast majority of men (85.4%) and women (83.2%) practice oral sex during intimate relationships.
A vaccine to protect against HPV is available and offered to children aged 12–13 in the UK.
They are vaccinated at this age because it is believed that the vaccine is most effective before someone becomes sexually active.
It is also offered to children who have missed a dose as well as men who have sex with men – who are considered at higher risk for HPV.
But the latest data for England shows that only 7 in 10 eligible children received the vaccine in the 2023–2024 school year – a significant drop compared to previous years.
This is despite studies showing that the vaccine has reduced cervical cancer cases in young girls in Britain by 90%.
Studies in the US suggest that the vaccine may also help reduce cases of head and neck cancer.
A study of 5 million Americans found that the vaccine halved cancer cases in men.
In 2013, famous actor Michael Douglas revealed that his oral cancer was caused by HPV, acquired through oral sex.
The "Fatal Attraction" and "Basic Instinct" star, now 79 and married to actress Catherine Zeta-Jones, 54, was successfully treated and remains cancer-free. /Express newspaper/
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