HPV Throat Cancer

Throat cancer or oral cancer includes group of cancers of the lips, mouth (oral cavity), nose (nasal cavity), para nasal sinuses, pharynx (the area behind the mouth and the nose) larynx and the vocal cords (sound box). Throat cancer in more than 90% of cases involves the pharynx, larynx and the vocal cords. Biologically speaking, these cancers are remarkably similar in nature and are usually of squamous cell type variety. A point to note of throat cancer is that it is usually extremely aggressive in behavior and spread to other surrounding organs fast. Spread to adjacent lymph nodes is sometimes the stage that it gets detected as the cancer otherwise spreads without many noticeable signs. However, there are many symptoms of throat cancer that is neglected due to their resemblance to other less harmful conditions as sore throats. It is caused by a number of factors and Human Papilloma Virus is one of the key contributing factors for developing cancer in the throat area. The HPV throat cancer shares the same symptoms as other cancers in the throat area spurred by factors such as smoking.

Symptoms of Throat Cancer

There are few marked symptoms which indicate a possibility of a throat cancer. However, these are not distinct, and hence shared by other less serious conditions as colds, sore throats and tonsil infections. The common throat cancer symptoms include abnormal swelling or lump in the neck region, changes in the voice pattern, bleeding from the lips and mouth that does not heal, pain and difficulty in swallowing liquids and food, and sudden weight loss accompanied by loss of desire to eat. More distinct symptoms that develop later on include possible paralysis of the face and appearance of white or red patches in the mouth.

Throat Cancer Risk Groups

Throat cancers have a higher prevalence in men compared to women and are most commonly seen in older men over the age of 50. Throat cancer has quite a strong association with certain environmental and lifestyle factors. It is more commonly seen in people who are heavy cigarette smokers and heavy alcohol consumers. People who are exposed to certain chemicals at the work place or to ultra violet light also fall in to high throat cancer risk groups. Medical conditions such as severe acid reflux disease and infections by certain strains of Human Papilloma virus can also increase the propensity to develop throat cancer. People with a positive family history of throat cancer are also among the risk groups.

Throat Cancer and Human Papilloma Virus

Human Papilloma virus that is known to be a principal cause of cervical cancer is now found to be a strong risk factor for throat cancer as well. The virus belongs to group of more than 150 related species. These viruses cause various medical conditions. Some of the strains are known to thrive as colonies in the oral cavity, increasing the possibility of developing throat cancers. Infections with HPV are quite common, and most patients do not have any symptoms, and therefore, some are even unawares that they have contacted the virus. However, certain high risk strains of Human Papilloma virus may cause long term infections with may be responsible for throat and cervical cancers. The Human Papilloma viruses carry close to fifteen high risk variants including strains such as the HPV16 and HPV18. Of these, 70% of cancers are associated with type 16 virus. Cervarix and Gardisil are two vaccines that have shown a lot of promise against these two types of human Papilloma viruses responsible for throat and cervical cancers.

How Does HPV Throat Cancer Originate

Oral sex in both men and women has been identified as the number one risk factor in the transmission of the Human Papilloma virus. According to The New England Journal of Medicine, multiple oral sex partners top the list of practices that are linked to throat cancer. A recent study reveals that people with more than six oral sex partners had three times more risk of developing throat cancer than those who did not have any oral sex partners. There was also a link between people testing positive for Human Papilloma virus and those diagnosed with cervical cancer. People who had been infected earlier with Human Papilloma virus were at a thirty two times more risk of developing throat cancer, than those who had not contacted it. A new study reveals that Human Papilloma virus is independently associated with throat cancer regardless of two other risk factors; alcohol and cigarette usage. Long time use of alcohol and tobacco are known to be strong risk factors. However, new studies show that Human Papilloma virus is a strong risk factor, responsible for one in four cases of throat cancer. The incidence of HPV throat cancer is much higher compared to throat cancer that is caused by tobacco use. HPV 16 strain of Human Papilloma virus is known to be responsible for 72% of orophyrangeal cancers.

Throat cancer especially that is caused by HPV can be avoided with safe sex practices. Same precautions should be applied in avoiding oral contact with persons who may have been affected with HPV. Since HPV throat cancer is now found to be the main throat cancer risk category, it is important that due diligence is extended in taking precautionary measures against developing serious health conditions of this nature.