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HPV and Mouth Cancer
January 19, 2009 |
The Human Papillomavirus is one of the fastest spreading STD’s in the United States
right now.
Dr. Philip Andrews, an ear, nose and throat physician practicing at Lee Memorial
Health System explains who is at risk. “Particularly a young person. If they
have five or more sexual partners then their risk of being positive for HPV is virtually
one hundred percent. It can sneak up on you.”
It is now common knowledge that HPV can put females at a higher risk of developing
cervical cancer. But Dr. Andrew says new research shows the virus may be linked
to other forms of cancer in females and males. He adds, “It’s surprising because
ordinarily all of the current education has been that it causes cancer of the cervix,
but newer statistics show that a fairly good proportion of head and neck cancer
is caused by this.”
Research on HPV and head and neck cancer is quite new. Physicians
and researchers are still searching for reasons why the conditions could be linked.
Dr. Andrews says, “We’re not really sure why that is. Recently it has come out that
HPV is causing a lot of these cancers and it could be that some of the HPV is the
sole causative agent and it could be that HPV is working in conjunction with smoking
and alcohol plays a role too.”
Doctor Andrews recommends getting an HPV vaccine and not smoking
to help prevent you from developing head and neck cancer.
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