Men More Likely to have Oral Cancer Viral Infection
An American study has revealed that men are more likely to have the HPV (human papilloma virus), which has been identified as a major risk factor for oral cancer.
The Journal of the American Medical Association study revealed that of the 5,500 people assessed, around 10 percent of men had HPV, in comparison to just 3.6 percent of women. The study analysed data from people aged between 14 and 69.
HPV has already been established as a major cause of cervical, genital and anal cancers and there is now evidence to suggest that it also increases the risk of head and neck cancers. Other risk factors include drinking alcohol and smoking on a regular basis.
According to researchers at Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, HPV infection can raise the risk of oral cancer by up to 50 percent and this is why the number of cases of oral cancer has increased so significantly over the last decade, especially among young people, who are more likely to have a number of sexual partners. The HPV is passed through sexual contact but studies show that most people are unaware of the virus and do not know about the link between HPV and cancer.
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