ORAL SEX LINKED TO CANCER

Increase in oral cancers linked to HPV

The human papillomavirus is contributing to the growing number of  head and neck cancers in the United States, according to a new study Monday in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

The study found that the number of cases of oropharyngeal cancer - cancers of the tonsil, back of the mouth (throat) and base of the tongue - has been on the rise since the mid-1980s.  The study suggests that one reason could an increase in the number of people having oral sex resulting in oral human papillomavirus  exposure.
Researchers say these cancers fall into two categories–those caused by tobacco and alcohol and those caused by the sexually transmitted virus, HPV. They now believe approximately 70% of all oropharyngeal cancers are caused by HPV infection.