Doctors are raising alarms about a sharp increase in throat cancer, and many cases are linked to oral sex. Research shows this cancer is growing so quickly that some scientists call it an “epidemic.”
The type most often seen is oropharyngeal cancer, which develops near the tonsils. The main cause is human papillomavirus (HPV), the same virus known to cause cervical cancer. “For oropharyngeal cancer, the biggest risk factor is the number of lifetime sexual partners,” explained Professor Hisham Mehanna of the University of Birmingham.
Studies in the UK found that 80% of adults have tried oral sex. Still, only a small number develop cancer. “Many people clear HPV naturally,” Mehanna noted. But in some, the infection lingers and damages DNA, making cells cancerous.
To fight this, countries like the US, UK, and Australia now give HPV vaccines to both boys and girls. Early protection may save lives. As one expert said, “Awareness is the first step toward prevention.”
What do you think—should HPV vaccination be made standard worldwide?
