Oral sex linked to cancer of the mouth

Suday Herald (UK) ^ | unknown | Sarah-Kate Templeton

[Sangamon Kid]

Oral sex linked to cancer of the mouth

By Sarah-Kate Templeton

New research to be published next year will provide powerful evidence that oral sex can cause mouth cancer.

Doctors who first suggested a form of mouth cancer could be linked to the same sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer have found more data to back their controversial theory. Two years ago, the group from Johns Hopkins University in the US published a paper suggesting the human papilloma virus (HPV), the cause of most cervical cancer, can also cause mouth cancer.

A new study, to be published in six months' time, will confirm this research, according to Dr Maura Gillison, an oncologist and member of the Johns Hopkins group. The news comes as Scottish mouth cancer experts are calling for research to be done here into the suspected link with oral sex.

David Soutar, president of the British Association of Head and Neck Oncologists, said: 'We were involved in a pilot study which suggested that this is certainly something that we should look into.

'It should be investigated further, particularly in people who don't have any of the risk factors such as smoking and drinking.

'One of the things that has interested me over the past 15 years is the increase in the number of women with oral cancer. It used to be five men to one woman but it is now about two men to one woman. What we do not know is whether this is all down to smoking.

'When I see the increase in women with oral cancer I think oral sex has to be one of the causes. We also have to find out why the age group suffering from oral cancer is becoming younger. Ideally, we would want to look at the under-45s.'

Mr Soutar, a consultant plastic surgeon at Canniesburn Hospital and the Nuffield Hospital, both in Glasgow, says it is difficult to find people willing to discuss their sexual behaviour, but says we have to consider the possibility sexually transmitted viruses are one of the causes.

Finding out whether HPV is a cause of mouth cancer is all the more pressing now that new treatments are being developed to fight cervical cancer. A vaccine to stop cervical cancer could become available within five years and doctors believe a similar vaccine could protect against some oral cancers.

The vaccine works by boosting the immune system against strains of HPV. The vaccine against cervical cancer will be targeted at girls of about 12 or 13, before they become sexually active and vulnerable to HPV.

But Soutar warns that, unlike cervical cancer where most forms of the disease are caused by HPV, the sexually transmitted virus could only be responsible for less than 20% of mouth cancer cases. He said targeting a vaccine would therefore be more difficult.

'If we could identify the sub-group this would be of benefit. We know smoking and drinking is probably the cause in 80% of cases so we couldn't use it in the same way as the vaccine against cervical cancer. This would only be a small proportion of those who have oral cancer.'

In the past decade in Scotland there has been an almost 50% increase in oral cancer among under-45s, and in the last 40 years a fourfold increase in younger patients suffering from it. Oral cancer affects 3000 people in the UK each year and the problem is worse north of the border.

www.omfsaboutface.co.uk/ aware.htm
www.cancerresearchuk.org

[Sangamon Kid]

Oral cancer is not pretty. But, I suppose that even after seeing pictures of those who have suffered the consequences, people will still be unwilling to practice abstinence. Before you know it lawyers will be lining up and suing Hollywood studios for medical related costs to diseases that their clients claimed were the direct result of a steady diet of American film viewing.

[Wolfie]

Lights out, missionary position only, through a hole cut in the sheet - Those are my rules. Immortality, here I come (so to speak).

[Phantom Lord]

But, I suppose that even after seeing pictures of those who have suffered the consequences, people will still be unwilling to practice abstinence

I am assuming that you are talking about unmarried persons. But incase your talking about everyone, why should married couples practice abstinence? Especially if they are attempting "natural" birth control. It would seem that oral sex, among other activities would tend to help them in that pursuit.

[HELLRAISER II]

Bad news for Lesbians.

[1redshirt]

Well, that sucks

[mewzilla]

Somehow I doubt this will ever be discussed in public school sex-ed classes.

[Slyfox]

it is difficult to find people willing to discuss their sexual behaviour

I'm guessing they don't get the Jerry Springer over there in England.

[Tai_Chung]

...but where would you put the government-required Warning Labels?

[Dead Corpse]

Bad title. It is the HPV that is being linked with cancer, not the act itself.

There was that recent blurb where someone has come up with either a vaccine, or other treatment, for HPV.

Non-story unless you have another agenda.

[Sangamon Kid]

Can someone now sue Will Billy Clinton for being the poster boy and 'First Promoter' of oral sex?

[Karsus]

Because the Taliban division of FR has let it be know they think that anyone who does such things should be killed.


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/804190/posts?page=212#212
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/804190/posts?page=201#201


:->

[mg39]

Where do I sign up to participate in this study?

[joesnuffy]

If you cant be with the one you love
Dont

[Bluntpoint]

The next hollywood awards show, where will they tie this ribbon?

[realpatriot71]

Let do some math

Pop of the UK: 58,789,194

Number of cases/year: 3000 Incidence: .005%

Do I really have to go into what a 50% increase means (.007% incidence btw)? Put this into prospective and there is no clear and present danger here. Enjoy your oral sex.

[VOA]

Oral cancer is not pretty.

Maybe 10 years ago the Journal of the American Medical Association had an issue with
a couple of pages of color photographs of various HIDEOUS conditions of the
mouth and esophagous.
I stumbled onto while browsing journals between classes.
I think the photos were from an article about mouth and esophageal problems
in AIDS patients.

I don't know if oral sexual activity was directly causative of the conditions...
but I wouldn't be suprised if oral sex MIGHT have some related downsides for
oral health...

[Tijeras_Slim]

It helps if you spit your Skoal out first...

[The Toll]

I'm toast.

[hellinahandcart]

We know smoking and drinking is probably the cause in 80% of cases

I'm not gonna stop drinking, either. :-P

[CJ Wolf]

Oral cancer affects 3000 people in the UK. OK so this study is accurate. Only 3000 people in the UK have oral sex.

[Paulus Invictus]

Monica: see your doctor now!

[HELLRAISER II]

He's pretty much showed the world that he can weasel out of any legal snafu, I wouldn't waste my time.

[goldstategop]

Yeah. Let's forgo the pleasures of making love. I hear sexual pleasure can lead to all kinds of ailments so make sure before planning to engage in consentual sexual activity, that you're covered by a lawyer from the inevitable future lawsuits.

[NYTexan]

"Lights out, missionary position only, through a hole cut in the sheet"

LMAO!!

BTTT

[sam_paine]

'When I see the increase in women with oral cancer I think oral sex has to be one of the causes. We also have to find out why the age group suffering from oral cancer is becoming younger.

Hey DirtyMindDoc....why is this your first hypothesis?? Could it be that more young women are just smoking cigarettes? Pole smoking need not be your first suspicion....

[Caipirabob]

How come dogs can get away with it?

No inference here or anything. Still, as a "healthy" heterosexual the first thought was...

NOOOOOOO!!!!

[wimpycat]

Bad news for Lesbians.

Bad news for all women.

My gynecologist, as well as my mother, who was a public health nurse, told me that the Human Papilloma Virus is transmitted from men to women, usually never affecting the man, but showing up in women as abnormal pap smears, which can lead to cervical cancer. It stands to reason women might have an elevated risk of oral cancer if, well...you know.

[realpatriot71]

Lights out, missionary position only, through a hole cut in the sheet - Those are my rules. Immortality, here I come (so to speak).

Don't forget the cameras - I mean, come on, how are supposed to enforce our morals on everyone else. As an added bonus we can check for people growing MJ

"double, plus good, citizen!"

[HELLRAISER II]

I was also told by a physician that even though it is possible to transmit HIV by Heterosexual sex contact, the man a majority of the time will not contract it while the women share a much higher chance of being infected.

[JHrules]

I would like to find out exactly how they did this study. I then want to get funding to do a test group study myself to prove the findings. Did anyone else notice that the names invovled in this were all men?? Hope they didn't test each other LOL

[vin-one]

Oh my G*d, I guess I am doomed but my wife should be ok,
this news really SUCKS. ( ha ha)
And now for something completely different.

a sheet with a hole in it, you can do better than that.

Xena add something new to crusade about......

[CougarGA7]

LOL! Mouth Cancer be dammed, I'm not giving it up!

[Bella_Bru]

If you had bothered to read the "What Every Good Conservative Does, Thinks, and Says" by ceretain FReepers, you'd have already known that was the only acceptable way.

[Protagoras]

Living is the number one cause of dying.

[Junior]

Great. Now my wife has another excuse...

[eastsider]

SCOTUS picked an interesting time to review the Texas sodomy statute.

[wimpycat]

This is a good time to remind all women to get their cervical exams every year. Cervical cancer is not pleasant.

[Constitution Day]

Sigh... I'm done for. :)

[Belial]

Lights out, missionary position only, through a hole cut in the sheet

Actually, that sounds kind of kinky...

[the_doc]

This is not all that surprising, since it is has long been recognized that HPV warts are sometimes found in the oropharynx.

Thanks for the post.

[Redcloak]

What we do not know is whether this is all down to smoking.

But, of course, that won't get any media attention; proposing oral sex as an alternative hypothesis will!

[hellinahandcart]

Actually, that sounds kind of kinky...

Throw in some shackles and feathers and you gots yourself a party...

[CaliforniaOkie]

Monica Leuinsky take heed.

[chiefqc]

ALERT TO ROSIE

Watch out for cancer, although it my PC not to warn you about your chosen life style I offer this alert because mouth cancer is not as much fun as doing what you have a PC right to do.

It,s up to you you've been warned.

I won't lose any sleep over your decision.

NUF SAID

[Freebird Forever]

He's pretty much showed the world that he can weasel out of any legal snafu

Gotti deceived himself with that belief also.

[DAnconia55]

Enjoy your oral sex.

Shhhhh.. you'll stir up the FR Taliban, you pesky sodomite :)

[Bella_Bru]

Right, and heteros aren't affected at all?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Lights out, missionary position only, through a hole cut in the sheet

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

[SevenDaysInMay]

HPV bump and grind.

Free love is not free.

[lavaroise]

Well, when you think some people get upset about not getting their fix even though they are infected, it is a worthy study. Oral sex is sinful because it is a tendentious privilege, not a right.