Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) that is responsible for many cases of Cancer of Cervix in women may also protect from oropharyngeal cancer.
Oropharyngeal cancers may be due to smoking and alcohol also, apart from infection from HPV. Here this virus spreads most commonly from oral sex from one partner to the other.
There are about 120 types of HPV from which about 40 types are important in infecting human. Commonly, transmitted through sex, usually, wanes off in about 80% to 85% of cases; but about 10% to 15% cases that may remain to cause serious problems like cancers in cervix, genitals (Both male and female) and recently highlighted oropharyngeal cancer.
Actor Michael Douglas is reported to have spoken about the link after his own diagnosis with throat cancer.
Most cases of genital warts are caused by 'low-risk' HPV types 6 and 11, meaning they do not pose a significant cancer risk. High-risk types include HPV 16 and 18 which can cause cancer of the cervix in women.
The vaccine Cervarix protects against HPV types 16 and 18. Gardasil also protects against HPV types 6 and 11 as well as 16 and 18.
There are about 120 types of HPV from which about 40 types are important in infecting human. Commonly, transmitted through sex, usually, wanes off in about 80% to 85% of cases; but about 10% to 15% cases that may remain to cause serious problems like cancers in cervix, genitals (Both male and female) and recently highlighted oropharyngeal cancer.
Actor Michael Douglas is reported to have spoken about the link after his own diagnosis with throat cancer.
Most cases of genital warts are caused by 'low-risk' HPV types 6 and 11, meaning they do not pose a significant cancer risk. High-risk types include HPV 16 and 18 which can cause cancer of the cervix in women.
The vaccine Cervarix protects against HPV types 16 and 18. Gardasil also protects against HPV types 6 and 11 as well as 16 and 18.
- HPV vaccines are recommended for 11- or 12-year-old boys and girls. HPV vaccines are safe and effective, and can protect males and females against some of the most common types of HPV that can lead to disease and cancer. HPV vaccines are given in three shots over six months; it is important to get all three doses to get the best protection. Boys and girls at ages 11 or 12 are most likely to have the best protection provided by HPV vaccines, and their immune response to vaccine is better than older women and men.
- Girls and women: Two vaccines (Cervarix and Gardasil) are available to protect females against the types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers. One of these vaccines (Gardasil) also protects against most genital warts, and has been shown to protect against anal, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. Either vaccine is recommended for 11- and 12-year-old girls, and for females 13 through 26 years of age who did not get any or all of the shots when they were younger. These vaccines can also be given to girls beginning at 9 years of age.
- Boys and men: One vaccine (Gardasil) is available to protect males against most genital warts and anal cancers. Gardasil is recommended for 11- and 12-year-old boys, and for males 13 through 21 years of age who did not get any or all of the shots when they were younger. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men should receive the vaccine through age 26 years. Males 22–26 years of age may also get the vaccine.
- Approximately 79 million Americans are currently infected with HPV.
About 14 million people become newly infected each year. HPV is so
common that nearly all sexually-active men and women will get at least
one type of HPV at some point in their lives.Genital warts: About 360,000 persons in the U.S. get genital warts each year.
Cervical cancer: About 12,000 women in the U.S. get cervical cancer each year.
Other cancers that can be caused by HPV, including some vaginal, vulvar, penile, anal, and oropharyngeal cancers: Each year in the U.S., HPV is thought to cause an estimated.
- 2,100 vulvar cancers,
- 500 vaginal cancers,
- 600 penile cancers,
- 2,800 anal cancers in women,
- 1,500 anal cancers in men,
- 1,700 oropharyngeal cancers in women, and
- 6,700 oropharyngeal cancers in men.
A 2011 study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology showed that in the United States, HPV-positive oral cancers increased from 16 percent of all oral cancers in the 1980s to 70 percent in the early 2000s.
And according to the Oral Cancer Foundation, nearly 42,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral and throat cancer in 2013, and more than 8,000 people will die from these conditions.
It is better have safe sex and act towards preventing the disease than try to treat the disease.
