| ORAL sex can lead to throat cancer, say US scientists. |
| 11 April 2009 |
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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.' |
Wow epic fail....