New studies show that the number of white, young American males diagnosed with throat cancer has increased for the past year, but no one knows exactly why. But the latest studies done by medical experts have tapped a possible link to the disease. That is, aside from smoking tobacco, they are now considering oral sex as one of the top causes of throat cancer in America. Their study also resulted to data stating that in the U.S., 64 percent of throat cancer cases are caused by the human papilloma virus transmitted through oral sex.
Throat cancer usually begins as squamous cell carcinomas that appear along the tissue layers of the affected body part. Cancer cells may develop in whichever part of the throat. May it be on the spot at the back of the nasal cavity (nasopharynx), the part following the mouth (oropharynx) and the area of the throat that connects to the esophagus and trachea (hypopharynx).
Common symptoms include a lump in the throat that never seem to disappear, continual sore throat, cough that gets worse every time, earache, loss of hearing and difficulty in breathing or talking. Tinnitus or ringing in the ears, blood in your cough, sudden weight loss and swollen neck lymph nodes – these are symptoms that should not be ignored especially if you match the characteristics of a person who is at high risk of getting throat cancer as described below.
Men are the ones who are mostly hit by this disease. Those who are over the age of 50, who are heavy smokers and drinkers, do not practice an active lifestyle, those who do not eat a healthy diet, those who perform oral sex to 6 or more partners, or individuals who are heavily exposed to wood dust in their line of work are considered to be at high risk of acquiring this disease. However, the high risk age seem to be getting lower than 50 years old. The Oral Cancer Foundation reported that among 37,000 Americans diagnosed with the cancer in 2010 were mostly young men.
Maura Gillison of Ohio State University has been studying cancer and HPV for fifteen years. She discovered that in comparing individuals who have or who does not have an oral infection, the one predominant question is how many partners they have perform oral sex with. When the number increases, the risk is also greater. She reported that past studies suggest that a person who have had oral sex with 6 or more partners throughout a lifetime may have 8 times greater risk of getting HPV-related neck and head cancer than someone who have had less than 6 partners.
The issue about having multiple partners causing viruses to spread like wildfire only shows how promiscuous human beings have become. It is very alarming news and it should not only concern adults but teens as well. According to the study conducted by Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, a professor from the University of California, oral sex is more frequently performed by teens than vaginal sex because most of them don’t consider it as sex. Both adult males and teenage boys should also look into the importance of getting Gardasil vaccine against HPV, which in this case, is not only for girls to prevent cervical cancer but to prevent throat cancer for males.
Early detection of throat cancer increases the possibility of curing it and this is where regular medical check-ups come in. Frequent medical care will allow your physician to properly diagnose symptoms and assess your risk of acquiring the disease. He or she may also help you go through some changes in terms of your health habits and suggest various supplements, vaccines or medications that will help lower your risks.
Like any other cancer, throat cancer is treated through chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery. Different approach is used depending on the severity of the case or how the patient’s body reacts to the treatment. The aim of the treatment is to completely remove all signs of the cancer in the affected area. After-treatments such as speech therapy can help the patient get back his ability to talk and swallow.
