Increase in cancer rates linked to oral sex (1 Viewer)

[ur_inner_child]

Increase in cancer rates linked to oral sex

Rob Stein in Washington
May 11, 2007

THE sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer also sharply increases the risk of throat cancer among people infected through oral sex, a new study says.

The study, involving 300 subjects with and without throat cancer, found that those infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV) were 32 times more likely to develop one form of oral cancer than those free of the virus. Although previous research had indicated that the virus caused oral cancer, the new study is the first to definitively establish the link, researchers said.

"It makes it absolutely clear that oral HPV infection is a risk factor," said Maura Gillison, an assistant professor of oncology and epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions in Baltimore, who led the study published yesterday in The New England Journal of Medicine.

The findings could help explain why oral cancer rates have been increasing in recent years, particularly among younger people and those who are not smokers or heavy drinkers, which had long been the primary at-risk groups, experts said.

"There's been a kind of sea change in the last 10 years in who we're seeing with these cancers," Dr Gillison said. "It makes sense with some changes we've seen in sexual behaviour."

The findings provide new evidence that oral sex is not safe sex.

"Many adolescents, and adults too, say they engage in oral sex as a less risky type of sex," said Mark Schuster of the University of California, Los Angeles, noting that herpes, syphilis, gonorrhoea, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections also spread through oral sex. "What this article and others show is you absolutely can get serious sexually transmitted diseases through oral sex."

The findings could also provide new ammunition for those advocating wide use of a new vaccine that protects against HPV. Even though the vaccine has not been tested specifically to see if it reduces the risk of oral cancer, it is designed to protect against the type of HPV associated with the malignancy.

"This adds more data that HPV is an important cause of cancer and that this is an important vaccine," said Joseph Bocchini, who chairs the American Academy of Pediatrics's committee on infectious diseases.

The type of oral cancer linked to HPV strikes about 11,000 Americans a year. This is about the same as the number of women diagnosed with cervical cancer.

It could also spur calls to vaccinate both boys and girls because oral cancer strikes both.

Proponents of the vaccine have been advocating mandatory vaccination of girls. But opponents say the vaccine may encourage sexual activity and that the vaccine is too new to be sure that it is safe and its effectiveness is long lasting. They argue that the decision should be left to individual parents.

In the study, regardless of whether they were infected, anyone who had had between one and five oral sex partners was 3.8 times more likely to have the cancer, whereas those who had had more than six oral sex partners were 8.6 times more likely.

It remains unclear whether kissing someone who is HPV-positive poses any risks.

uh oh lol

 

[quik.]

Way to hate on like my favourite activity ever, science.

]:

Edeet: If that's the vaccine they are talking about in the other thread, and it's freely available after July, is it only freely available to wimminz?

 

[Skeeta]

haha oh wow, in one of my voice lectures we were talking about tumours, granules and nodules etc that people get on the vocal chords, and the treatment we do after surgery. One of these things people can get is a papilloma. Its NASTY, but has no relation whatsoever to HPV.

Our lecturer told us about one of her clients who was a 19 yr old male who had this, and his parents googled Papilloma and found HPV. He got in lots of trouble and my lecturer had to explain the difference

I loled.

 

[dagwoman]

One of these things people can get is a papilloma. Its NASTY, but has no relation whatsoever to HPV.

But HPV= human papillomavirus...

 

[Skeeta]

Yes. I know, but not all papilloma's are from HPV. The one stef is talking about is though. But its a huge source of confusion for lots of people that get NON HPV papillomas

 

[jumb]

Increase in cancer rates linked to oral sex

Rob Stein in Washington
May 11, 2007

uh oh lol

Why would boys need the vaccine unless they suck a lot of dickies?

 

[ur_inner_child]

Why would boys need the vaccine unless they suck a lot of dickies?

Funny you jumped to that conclusion because I thought a bigger percentage of guys would eat pussy.

Unless that's not a way to get infected *shrug*

 

[jumb]

Unless that's not a way to get infected *shrug*

That was my assumption! Now you've got me all scared. Hold me.

 

[CieL]

It's worth it, right?

 

[Forbidden.]

them flavoured condoms have greater potential thanks to this.

 

[The_highwayman]

them flavoured condoms have greater potential thanks to this.

there's probably carcinogens in the condoms.

 

[Forbidden.]

there's probably carcinogens in the condoms.

Remember,
PROOF or LIES.

 

[jumb]

them flavoured condoms have greater potential thanks to this.

Those things are so yummy I eat them when I'm finished.

 

[ur_inner_child]

Those things are so yummy I eat them when I'm finished.

Oh okay you just put me off my food

 

[jumb]

Oh okay you just put me off my food

I can keep going. Something about how the vanila ones are the same colour as semen?

 

[Casmira]

oh shit!

 

[The_highwayman]

no more cawk for you, casmira.

 

[chelsea girl]

it's a good thing i hate oral sex!
and it's a great excuse to not have to do it! woo woo!

 

[Strawbaby]

Did you know that life causes cancer?

It's always something.

 

[lengy]

Cancer... CAUSES CANCER!!! So don't like cancer cause you'll get more of it and cancer.