Oral sex linked to throat cancer

MOD · May 2007

...... and the cries of men are heard across the world "NOOoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo..."

Oral sex linked to throat cancer
A virus contracted through oral sex is the cause of some throat cancers, say US scientists.
HPV infection was found to be a much stronger risk factor than tobacco or alcohol use, the Johns Hopkins University study of 300 people found.

The New England Journal of Medicine study said the risk was almost nine times higher for people who reported oral sex with more than six partners.

But experts said a larger study was needed to confirm the findings.

HPV infection is the cause of the majority of cervical cancers, and 80% of sexually active women can expect to have an HPV infection at some point in their lives.

The Johns Hopkins study took blood and saliva from 100 men and women newly diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer which affects the throat, tonsils and back of the tongue.

They also asked questions about sex practices and other risk factors for the disease, such as family history.

Those who had evidence of prior oral HPV infection had a 32-fold increased risk of throat cancer.

HPV16 - one of the most common cancer-causing strains of the virus - was present in the tumours of 72% of cancer patients in the study.

Risk factors

There was no added risk for people infected with HPV who also smoked and drank alcohol, suggesting the virus itself is driving the risk of the cancer.

Oral sex was said to be the main mode of transmission of HPV but the researchers said mouth-to-mouth transmission, for example through kissing, could not be ruled out.

Most HPV infections clear with little or no symptoms but a small percentage of people who acquired high-risk strains may develop a cancer, the researchers added.

Study author Dr Gypsyamber D'Souza said: "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 previous research by the team had suggested there was a strong link.

But she added: "People should be reassured that oropharyngeal cancer is relatively uncommon and the overwhelming majority of people with an oral HPV infection probably will not get throat cancer."

A vaccine which protects against cervical cancer caused by HPV strains 6, 11, 16 and 18, and also against genital warts is available and the researchers said the study provided a rationale for vaccinating both girls and boys.

But whether the vaccine would protect against oral HPV infection is not yet known.

Dr Julie Sharp, science information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: "There is conflicting evidence about the role of HPV, and this rare type of mouth cancer.

"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."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/6639461.stm

Published: 2007/05/10 07:40:47 GMT

whyfi · May 2007

Sounds like BS.

Nothing to see here, folks - move along.

pitu · May 2007

HPV infection is the cause of the majority of cervical cancers, and 80% of sexually active women can expect to have an HPV infection at some point in their lives.

actually, this is the part that effects the most people
unlike that particular rare throat cancer, cervical cancer effects plenty of women

Safe Sex, pls.
You can still work the middle . . .

idlewild · May 2007

And here I was looking forward to a glazed donut or two. You notice, however, that the study doesn't say that there weren't any significant amount of Jewish men with throat cancer. So who knows it just may be a right wing plot to impose Puritanical values on the un-willing masses.

raw · May 2007

Can we make a new rule that "sex" and "cancer" cannot be in the same sentence?

brooklynpotter · May 2007

Idlewild wrote: And here I was looking forward to a glazed donut or two. You notice, however, that the study doesn't say that there weren't any significant amount of Jewish men with throat cancer. So who knows it just may be a right wing plot to impose Puritanical values on the un-willing masses.

i've been mulling this one all weekend... how about elaborating?

bigguy · May 2007

Thanks for making my throat hurt all of a sudden Mamacita. For more STD news, check out this link on why Herpes is good for you.

And please, please note the name of the viral immunologist quoted.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18705326/

idlewild · May 2007

brooklynpotter wrote: [quote=Idlewild]And here I was looking forward to a glazed donut or two. You notice, however, that the study doesn't say that there weren't any significant amount of Jewish men with throat cancer. So who knows it just may be a right wing plot to impose Puritanical values on the un-willing masses.

i've been mulling this one all weekend... how about elaborating?

Since Jewish men are known to eat great puss*, the report should say that a high percentage of cancer victims are Jewish men. Unless of course we have some sort of natural immunity to that type of std. Then we really are chosen.

brooklynpotter · May 2007

Idlewild wrote:
Since Jewish men are known to eat great puss*, the report should say that a high percentage of cancer victims are Jewish men. Unless of course we have some sort of natural immunity to that type of std. Then we really are chosen.

nice play with the data, except the report/study does not differentiate between what is a "great" act vs an average or lousy one. plus, there doesn't seem to be anything about cross contamination, which should be another # plugged into the equation. additionally, while i can't find any stats on this, i'd hazard a guess that many lesbian women have HPV because transmission is so rampant. so where are the women with throat cancer?

(and while i'm sure you're being facetious in using the "chosen" people to separate any MOT from gentiles, you might want to remember that those who don't know that being "chosen" simply means that moses, a jew, was chosen to receive the ten commandments and share them with the jews. ergo, jews were chosen for the task, not for being "chosen", ie" extra special, in the first place. )

idlewild · May 2007

Well, it seems every time there's a report out on disease the folks making the report have no problem breaking down into classes the race and ethnicity and even financial situation of who is affected. The omission of the break down in this report just backs up my point that the Puritans who made this report are looking to repress sex they consider "sinful", and they're probably afraid that the Puritanical women would be driving down to NYC in droves to see if the Jewish man stereotype was true if the breakdown was included. So lock up yo Shiksas.

As far as the Chosen thing, if you read the Five Books, the Hebrews (Jew/s/ish not being coined until much later) were guaranteed the Big Guy's unconditional love and support before and after the Ten Commandments were handed down. He (or She) made no uncertain terms that the children of Abraham would spread throughout old time Israel, and revealed to Moses that though they were a small nation that they would be the mightiest and that they were G's Number One but only if they obeyed his laws and loved him with all their heart. True, he bestowed blessings upon Ishmael and Esau (I believe) but throughout the Bible he pretty much sticks with the Hebrews, from Abraham to Joseph to Moses.

brooklynpotter · May 2007

if race/religion were a factor then jewish *women* wouldn't get HPV, unless it's just the men, as you theorize, that could be immune.

there's no evidence in this study that there was any sort of "puritans" working the report. and the results were from a small study, so i'm not convinced. and, again, since it clearly states that mouth-to-mouth transmission couldn't be ruled out, and it's reasonable to assume that people who have HPV in one particular area of their body would likely also get it in their mouths, basically everyone's at risk.

i won't go into religion in regard to "chosen" because i pretty much flunked hebrew school and count my bat mitzvah as one of the worst days of my entire life.

Oral sex linked to throat cancer

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