In the last twenty years, there has been a significant rise in the incidence of throat cancer, prompting some experts to label it an epidemic.
Oral sex has been identified as a contributing factor to this “epidemic,” with some studies suggesting it may be more harmful than smoking.
According to an expert, throat cancer has now surpassed cervical cancer in prevalence in both the United Kingdom and the United States.
This surge in cases has been specifically linked to a type of head and neck cancer known as oropharyngeal cancer.
Oropharyngeal cancer, often referred to as throat or tonsil cancer, affects the base and posterior one-third of the tongue, the tonsils, the soft palate, and the posterior and lateral walls of the pharynx.
The condition primarily impacts the tonsils and the rear of the throat and is associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV is also recognized as the leading cause of cervical cancer.
According to the NHS, HPV encompasses a widespread group of viruses that typically do not pose issues for most individuals; however, certain strains can lead to genital warts or cancer.
There are over 100 distinct types of HPV.
Dr. Hisham Mehanna from the University of Birmingham in the UK noted that individuals with multiple oral sex partners are over eight times more likely to develop this cancer.
In an article for The Conversation, Dr. Mehanna stated, “In the past two decades, there has been a rapid increase in throat cancer in the West, to the extent that some have called it an epidemic.”
Medical professionals have identified HPV infection as the primary risk factor for the development of this disease.
Dr. Mehanna elaborated, “The prevailing theory is that most individuals contract HPV infections and are able to eliminate them entirely. However, a small subset of people cannot rid themselves of the infection, possibly due to a deficiency in a specific aspect of their immune system. In these cases, the virus can replicate continuously and, over time, integrate randomly into the host’s DNA, which can lead to the transformation of host cells into cancerous cells.”
