Oral Sex causes Oral Cancers in Men and Women

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Subject: Oral Sex causes Oral Cancers in Men and Women

Here is an important update on HPV. For some of you who are already aware of

this/get regular PAPs/in long-term monogamous relationships/have no partners

at the moment, this is not so much an update as it is a request to pass this

on to others who need to hear it. Please remember to BCC people if you

choose to spread this message via email:

<http://serolynne.livejournal.com/479245.html>

http://serolynne.livejournal.com/479245.html

The HPV virus doesn't just affect the woman's body by increasing the risks

for cervical cancers. But studies are starting to show that HPV is causative

to oral cancer's in men (and presumably women too).. from yup, you guessed

it.. oral sex. And it's now as common a cause as tobacco and alcohol.

<http://news./s/ap/20080202/ap_on_he_me/hpv_oral_cancer_4>

http://news./s/ap/20080202/ap_on_he_me/hpv_oral_cancer_4

Remember, when a woman has mild cervical dysplasia, she is very actively

shedding the virus. If you give unprotected oral sex to her, you are

basically bathing your mouth and throat in juices laden with HPV shedding.

The mouth and throat are similar tissue types as the cervix.

I've long suspected this, and thus why I've always drastically altered my

sexual practices when dealing with an active HPV infection.

And the article in full archived here:

By MIKE STOBBE, AP Medical Writer Fri Feb 1, 7:02 PM ET ATLANTA - The

sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer in women is poised to

become one of the leading causes of oral cancer in men, according to a new

study.

The HPV virus now causes as many cancers of the upper throat as tobacco and

alcohol, probably due both to an increase in oral sex and the decline in

smoking, researchers say.

The only available vaccine against HPV, made by Merck & Co. Inc., is

currently given only to girls and young women. But Merck plans this year to

ask government permission to offer the shot to boys.

Experts say a primary reason for male vaccinations would be to prevent men

from spreading the virus and help reduce the nearly 12,000 cases of cervical

cancer diagnosed in U.S. women each year. But the new study should add to

the argument that there may be a direct benefit for men, too.

" We need to start having a discussion about those cancers other than

cervical cancer that may be affected in a positive way by the vaccine, " said

study co-author Dr. Maura Gillison of s Hopkins University.

The study was published Friday in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is the leading cause of cervical cancer in

women. It also can cause genital warts, penile and anal cancer =97 risks for

males that generally don't get the same attention as cervical cancer.

Previous research by Gillison and others established HPV as a primary cause

of the estimated 5,600 cancers that occur each year in the tonsils, lower

tongue and upper throat. It's also been known that the virus' role in such

cancers has been rising.

The new study looked at more than 30 years of National Cancer Institute data

on oral cancers. Researchers categorized about 46,000 cases, using a formula

to divide them into those caused by HPV and those not connected to the

virus.

They concluded the incidence rates for HPV-related oral cancers rose

steadily in men from 1973 to 2004, becoming about as common as those from

tobacco and alcohol.

The good news is that survival rates for the cancer are also increasing.

That's because tumors caused by HPV respond better to chemotherapy and

radiation, Gillison said.

" If current trends continue, within the next 10 years there may be more oral

cancers in the United States caused by HPV than tobacco or alcohol, "

Gillison said.

Studies suggest oral sex is associated with HPV-related oral cancers, but a

cause-effect relationship has not been proved. Other researchers have

suggested that even unwashed hands can spread it to the mouth as well.

Gillison pointed toward sex as an explanation for the increase in male upper

throat cancers. However, HPV-related upper throat cancers declined

significantly in women from 1973 to 2004.

Merck's vaccine, approved for girls in 2006, is a three-dose series priced

at about $360. It is designed to protect against four types of HPV,

including one associated with oral cancer.

Merck has been testing the vaccine in an international study, but it is

focused on anal and penile cancer and genital warts, not oral cancers, said

Kelley Dougherty, a Merck spokeswoman.

" We are continuing to consider additional areas of study that focus on both

female and male HPV diseases and cancers, " Dougherty said.

Merck officials praised Gillison's research, saying it will elevate the

importance of HPV-related oral cancers.

Government officials and the American Cancer Society say they don't know yet

whether Merck's vaccine will be successful at preventing disease in men. No

data from the company's study are available yet.

Indeed, it's not clear yet that the vaccine even prevents the HPV infection

in males, let alone cancer or any other illness, said Debbie Saslow of the

American Cancer Society.

Merck plans to seek U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for the

vaccine in men later this year, meaning a government decision would be

likely in 2009.

___

On the Net:

Journal of Clinical Oncology: <http://jco.ascopubs.org/>

http://jco.ascopubs.org

Lots more info about HPV in <http://joreth.livejournal.com/21110.html>

http://joreth.livejournal.com/21110.html and followed up at

<http://joreth.livejournal.com/49944.html>

http://joreth.livejournal.com/49944.html

Please pass this on to everyone you know, particularly those who participate

in multiple partnerships, and feel free to repost in any forum or journal.

No virus found in this outgoing message.

Checked by AVG Free Edition.

Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.19.21/1263 - Release Date: 2/6/2008

8:14 PM