Hong Kong research finds 1 in 5 throat cancer patients possibly contract HPV from oral sex
First local study of its kind on human papillomavirus suggests sexual intercourse, mostly involving men, is a vehicle for infection
One in five patients with throat cancer in the city was found to have been afflicted due to a virus that caused genital warts which was likely to be spreading through genitals to mouth through oral sex, a recent study by Chinese University of Hong Kong has found.
Researchers said the study was the first local investigation into how the human papillomavirus – also known as HPV and a cause of cervical cancer in women – can also lead to throat cancer.
Most of the throat cancer patients who tested positive for HPV were men, and they were younger than other such patients not infected with the virus.
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“The outbreaks are spreading from different countries, “ said Chan on Thursday when announcing the results of his study relating to throat cancer.
“HPV infection is likely to be associated with the patients’ sexual habits and oral hygiene,” he explained. “The West is leading in infections now and Asian countries are less affected by comparison, but it will spread.”
In 2010, American actor and producer Michael Douglas was among the line of celebrities diagnosed with throat cancer.
There are some 200 types of HPV, some of them can cause genital warts and cancers, but most cases simple goes away naturally without causing any health problems.
