Oral Sex Implicated in Some Throat and Neck Cancers
By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter
,
HealthDay
Posted: 2007-08-27 14:09:05
MONDAY, Aug. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Human papillomavirus (HPV), which is believed to be responsible for most cervical cancers, may also be at the root of many cancers of the mouth and throat, new research suggests.
Although the rate of most head and neck cancers has been declining over the past 30 years because more people have stopped smoking, the rate of certain cancers in the throat and mouth hasn't dropped, according to research published in the Aug. 27 online issue of Cancer.
"Smoking prevalence has dropped dramatically, and, likewise, most head and neck cancers have declined in incidence. Cancers at the base of the tongue and tonsil are increasing or have remained stagnant. We're not seeing the reduction in incidence that we would have expected," said study author Dr. Erich Sturgis, an associate professor of head and neck surgery and epidemiology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, in Houston.
The study authors suspect the reason may be orally transmitted HPV infections.
"Just as cervical cancer is the outcome of a sexually transmitted disease, as are most anal and penile cancers, people need to be aware that they can get throat or tongue cancer as the consequence of a sexually transmitted disease," said Sturgis. "Oral sex can't be considered safe sex."
Head and neck cancers aren't common; they account for about 3 percent of all cancer cases in the United States, according to the study. Each year, there are about 45,000 new cases of head and neck cancers. Cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol consumption have long been considered the most significant risk factors in the development of these cancers, said Sturgis. Between 80 percent and 90 percent of head and neck cancers can be attributed to tobacco or alcohol use.
In 2005, about 21 percent of Americans were smokers, down from 42.5 percent in 1965. The decline in smoking prevalence began in the 1970s, and about 10 to 15 years later, the incidence rates of most head and neck cancers began to decline, according to the study.
But the rate of some of these cancers didn't go down as quickly as others, and, in the case of cancers of the tongue, the rate has gone up. In 1995, there were fewer than 6,000 cases of tongue cancer. By 2005, that number was more than 8,000, according to the study.
Previous research has found that up to 50 percent of nonsmokers with throat and mouth cancers were infected with HPV, according to the study.
How people get infected hasn't been proven, but experts suspect oral sex may be the cause.
If that's the case, then the introduction of the cervical cancer vaccine for girls and women, which covers the common strains of HPV, may also help reduce the incidence of some head and neck cancers.
"We encourage the rapid study of the efficacy and safety of these vaccines in males and, if successful, the recommendation of vaccination in young adult and adolescent males," the study authors wrote.
"This gives us a good explanation of what we're seeing clinically," said Dr. Jay Brooks, chairman of hematology/oncology at Ochsner Health System in Baton Rouge, La. "Engaging in oral sex probably is the mode of transmission."
Both Brooks and Sturgis said that quitting smoking and drinking alcohol in moderation are still good ways to prevent head and neck cancers but that cutting down on those two risk factors may not be enough.
"We always thought, to prevent these cancers, all we had to do was get people to stop smoking and drinking excess alcohol, and stop chewing tobacco, and that we'd eliminate most head and neck cancers," said Sturgis. But, he added, future prevention efforts will likely focus on the HPV vaccine and on safe sex practices. For now, he said, women who've had an abnormal Pap smear and their partners probably shouldn't engage in oral sex.
By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter
,
HealthDay
Posted: 2007-08-27 14:09:05
MONDAY, Aug. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Human papillomavirus (HPV), which is believed to be responsible for most cervical cancers, may also be at the root of many cancers of the mouth and throat, new research suggests.
Although the rate of most head and neck cancers has been declining over the past 30 years because more people have stopped smoking, the rate of certain cancers in the throat and mouth hasn't dropped, according to research published in the Aug. 27 online issue of Cancer.
"Smoking prevalence has dropped dramatically, and, likewise, most head and neck cancers have declined in incidence. Cancers at the base of the tongue and tonsil are increasing or have remained stagnant. We're not seeing the reduction in incidence that we would have expected," said study author Dr. Erich Sturgis, an associate professor of head and neck surgery and epidemiology at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, in Houston.
The study authors suspect the reason may be orally transmitted HPV infections.
"Just as cervical cancer is the outcome of a sexually transmitted disease, as are most anal and penile cancers, people need to be aware that they can get throat or tongue cancer as the consequence of a sexually transmitted disease," said Sturgis. "Oral sex can't be considered safe sex."
Head and neck cancers aren't common; they account for about 3 percent of all cancer cases in the United States, according to the study. Each year, there are about 45,000 new cases of head and neck cancers. Cigarette smoking and excessive alcohol consumption have long been considered the most significant risk factors in the development of these cancers, said Sturgis. Between 80 percent and 90 percent of head and neck cancers can be attributed to tobacco or alcohol use.
In 2005, about 21 percent of Americans were smokers, down from 42.5 percent in 1965. The decline in smoking prevalence began in the 1970s, and about 10 to 15 years later, the incidence rates of most head and neck cancers began to decline, according to the study.
But the rate of some of these cancers didn't go down as quickly as others, and, in the case of cancers of the tongue, the rate has gone up. In 1995, there were fewer than 6,000 cases of tongue cancer. By 2005, that number was more than 8,000, according to the study.
Previous research has found that up to 50 percent of nonsmokers with throat and mouth cancers were infected with HPV, according to the study.
How people get infected hasn't been proven, but experts suspect oral sex may be the cause.
If that's the case, then the introduction of the cervical cancer vaccine for girls and women, which covers the common strains of HPV, may also help reduce the incidence of some head and neck cancers.
"We encourage the rapid study of the efficacy and safety of these vaccines in males and, if successful, the recommendation of vaccination in young adult and adolescent males," the study authors wrote.
"This gives us a good explanation of what we're seeing clinically," said Dr. Jay Brooks, chairman of hematology/oncology at Ochsner Health System in Baton Rouge, La. "Engaging in oral sex probably is the mode of transmission."
Both Brooks and Sturgis said that quitting smoking and drinking alcohol in moderation are still good ways to prevent head and neck cancers but that cutting down on those two risk factors may not be enough.
"We always thought, to prevent these cancers, all we had to do was get people to stop smoking and drinking excess alcohol, and stop chewing tobacco, and that we'd eliminate most head and neck cancers," said Sturgis. But, he added, future prevention efforts will likely focus on the HPV vaccine and on safe sex practices. For now, he said, women who've had an abnormal Pap smear and their partners probably shouldn't engage in oral sex.
I hear about this shit....got freaking scared....but ya know I had fun...am just going to have to face the consequences when it does hapen
Alright.
So, how many years have humans been engaging in Oral Sex?
It's great information to know. But to get freaked over? Hell no! Sure, if there's a safe vaccine out there, the get it. Get our daughters vaccinated.
But is it a reason to jump about? No.
Remember...drinking our water and breathing our air is a known cause of cancer...with a higher risk I'll bet.
Take it in stride and perspective...because now you know. And knowing is half the battle!
-K_T
So, how many years have humans been engaging in Oral Sex?
It's great information to know. But to get freaked over? Hell no! Sure, if there's a safe vaccine out there, the get it. Get our daughters vaccinated.
But is it a reason to jump about? No.
Remember...drinking our water and breathing our air is a known cause of cancer...with a higher risk I'll bet.
Take it in stride and perspective...because now you know. And knowing is half the battle!
-K_T
The Sky if Falling, The Sky is Falling!
Do you know what the number one cause of death is in this country?
They stop breathing...
They stop breathing...
AND I can promise this...If you eat a grape, you will die within 150 years!
Avoid grapes...they contribute to your death!
-K_T
Avoid grapes...they contribute to your death!
-K_T
I KNEW I shouldn't have eaten those grapes with breakfast!!.. Dammit! lmao..
Love your style, Kinbaku.
Love your style, Kinbaku.
Assuming that article is to be believed since it contains many words like "may", "assume" etc, etc, all oral sex would do is INCREASE the chance of cancer and not give you cancer. IOW, Your chances of getting cancer might go up from 1% to 3% instead of "If you perform oral sex, you WILL get cancer.". So, the question is how much more of an increase is it, assuming of course that the SWAG is believable.
Careful, such worry may cause one to lose concentration and become involved in an automobile accident. LOL
Honestly I am more worried about 1) Automobile crashes 2) Heart attack 3) Stroke. I do what I can to keep these at bay, any and all otherwise with a low statistic are innumerable. But hey that's just me; everybody already has that figured out, LOL.
Honestly I am more worried about 1) Automobile crashes 2) Heart attack 3) Stroke. I do what I can to keep these at bay, any and all otherwise with a low statistic are innumerable. But hey that's just me; everybody already has that figured out, LOL.
upon reading the article.. i noticed that throughout the entire thing, it only mentioned oral sex twice. lol and just like that.. a sentence. if its supposed to increase the risk, how does it do so, scientifically speaking. it just says.. oral sex may lead to it.. and then at the end.. dont engage in it.. what about why?
just a thought.. lol
just a thought.. lol
Just another scare tactic to boost pharmacuetical sales.
Guardisil has not been proven safe for young girls. I will not be vaxing my girls until more is known and they *choose* to have the vax after informing themselves of the potential risks.
Ali
Guardisil has not been proven safe for young girls. I will not be vaxing my girls until more is known and they *choose* to have the vax after informing themselves of the potential risks.
Ali
Here's some good news from FOX regarding the darker the......and cancer.
Don't cringe if we have purple stains on our teeth and lips, there might be a good reason.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293829,00.html
Here is what it says:
Study: Dark-Colored Fruits and Veggies Fight Cancer
Tuesday , August 21, 2007
The darker the berry, the sweeter the juice, so goes the saying.
But it turns out the darker berry or plum or grape, for that matter, the stronger the cancer-fighting properties.
Researchers conducting a recent study found that the compounds that give some fruits and vegetables their rich colors are powerful cancer deterrants.
Evidence from laboratory experiments on rats and on human colon cancer cells also suggests that anthocyanins, the compounds that give color to most red, purple and blue fruits and vegetables, also slow the growth of colon cancer cells.
�These foods contain many compounds, and we're just starting to figure out what they are and which ones provide the best health benefits,� said Monica Giusti, the lead author of the study and an assistant professor of food science at Ohio State University , in a news release.
The findings, which Giusti presented August 19 at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston, also bring scientists a step closer to figuring out what gives fruits and vegetables their cancer-fighting properties.
Giusti and her colleagues found that in some cases, slight alterations to the structure of anthocyanin molecules made these compounds more potent anti-cancer agents.
In their studies on human colon cancer cells grown in laboratory dishes, the researchers tested the anti-cancer effects of anthocyanin-rich extracts from a variety of fruits and vegetables. They retrieved these anthocyanins from grapes, radishes, purple corn, chokeberries, bilberries, purple carrots and elderberries.
The plants were chosen due to their extremely deep colors and high anthocyanin content.
The researchers found that the amount of anthocyanin extract needed to reduce cancer cell growth by 50 percent varied among the plants. Extract derived from purple corn was the most potent and used the least amount of extract (14 micrograms per milliliter of cell growth solution) to cut cell numbers in half.
Chokeberry and bilberry extracts were nearly as potent as purple corn. Radish extract was the least potent and it took nine times as much (131 milligrams per milliliter) of this compound to cut cell growth by 50 percent.
All fruits and vegetables that are rich in anthocyanins have compounds that can slow down the growth of colon cancer cells, whether in experiments in laboratory dishes or inside the body,� Giusti said.
In additional laboratory studies, researchers found that anthocyanin pigments from radish and black carrots slowed the growth of cancer cells anywhere from 50 to 80 percent.
Pigments from purple corn and chokeberries not only completely stopped the growth of cancer cells, but also killed almost 20 percent of the cancer cells while having little effect on healthy cells.
Don't cringe if we have purple stains on our teeth and lips, there might be a good reason.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,293829,00.html
Here is what it says:
Study: Dark-Colored Fruits and Veggies Fight Cancer
Tuesday , August 21, 2007
The darker the berry, the sweeter the juice, so goes the saying.
But it turns out the darker berry or plum or grape, for that matter, the stronger the cancer-fighting properties.
Researchers conducting a recent study found that the compounds that give some fruits and vegetables their rich colors are powerful cancer deterrants.
Evidence from laboratory experiments on rats and on human colon cancer cells also suggests that anthocyanins, the compounds that give color to most red, purple and blue fruits and vegetables, also slow the growth of colon cancer cells.
�These foods contain many compounds, and we're just starting to figure out what they are and which ones provide the best health benefits,� said Monica Giusti, the lead author of the study and an assistant professor of food science at Ohio State University , in a news release.
The findings, which Giusti presented August 19 at the national meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston, also bring scientists a step closer to figuring out what gives fruits and vegetables their cancer-fighting properties.
Giusti and her colleagues found that in some cases, slight alterations to the structure of anthocyanin molecules made these compounds more potent anti-cancer agents.
In their studies on human colon cancer cells grown in laboratory dishes, the researchers tested the anti-cancer effects of anthocyanin-rich extracts from a variety of fruits and vegetables. They retrieved these anthocyanins from grapes, radishes, purple corn, chokeberries, bilberries, purple carrots and elderberries.
The plants were chosen due to their extremely deep colors and high anthocyanin content.
The researchers found that the amount of anthocyanin extract needed to reduce cancer cell growth by 50 percent varied among the plants. Extract derived from purple corn was the most potent and used the least amount of extract (14 micrograms per milliliter of cell growth solution) to cut cell numbers in half.
Chokeberry and bilberry extracts were nearly as potent as purple corn. Radish extract was the least potent and it took nine times as much (131 milligrams per milliliter) of this compound to cut cell growth by 50 percent.
All fruits and vegetables that are rich in anthocyanins have compounds that can slow down the growth of colon cancer cells, whether in experiments in laboratory dishes or inside the body,� Giusti said.
In additional laboratory studies, researchers found that anthocyanin pigments from radish and black carrots slowed the growth of cancer cells anywhere from 50 to 80 percent.
Pigments from purple corn and chokeberries not only completely stopped the growth of cancer cells, but also killed almost 20 percent of the cancer cells while having little effect on healthy cells.
Ok Ok We all gonna die !. So until then please pile those pussy`s upon my chin I will eat them with a mighty grin. Unlike those drunken Astronauts, I will go outa this world with pussy on my breath ...Alcohol not!
all we can say is give woodogg chemo now, well there are more unplesent ways to die i guess,but eatting pussy aint one of them. woodogg