The number of oral cancer cases among women in the U.S. has increased. The disease used to affect men at six times the rate of women, but women now represent one third of the cases, in part due to cancers caused by a strain of the human papillomavirus (HPV).
"One message here is that even basic dental checkups can lead dentists to see if there's a problem or tumor in the oral cavity, so regular checkups are really important," says ACSH's Dr. Elizabeth Whelan. "The risk factors for oral cancer over the years have been smoking and heavy drinking, generally in combination, but now we know that it can be caused by HPV when transmitted by oral sex. The spectrum of HPV-related diseases is one of the least acknowledged of the public health risks around us. Thus, few people are aware of the various diseases associated with HPV, and how they are transmitted."
"Our recommendations for safe sex practice include being careful with oral sex as well," says ACSH's Dr. Gilbert Ross. "The good news is that the HPV vaccines that we now have from both Merck and GSK will likely protect from the virus types that cause oral cancer, and they are certainly effective against those that cause cervical."
"By the way," adds Dr. Whelan, "we should say that in addition to safe sex practices, abstinence is an option for some people. It certainly protects from STDs."
