Throat Cancer Is Becoming an Epidemic

Throat Cancer Is Becoming an Epidemic, And Oral Sex May Be Why

Over the past two decades, there has been a rapid increase in throat
cancer in the west, to the extent that some have called it an
epidemic.

This has been due to a large rise in a specific type of throat cancer
called oropharyngeal cancer (the area of the tonsils and back of the
throat).

The main cause of this cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV), which
are also the main cause of cancer of the cervix. Oropharyngeal cancer
has now become more common than cervical cancer in the US and the UK.

HPV is sexually transmitted. For oropharyngeal cancer, the main risk
factor is the number of lifetime sexual partners, especially oral sex.
Those with six or more lifetime oral-sex partners are 8.5 times more
likely to develop oropharyngeal cancer than those who do not practice
oral sex.

https://www.sciencealert.com/throat-cancer-is-becoming-an-epidemic-and-oral-sex-may-be-why