Oral sex and throat cancer: Michael Douglas HPV report spotlights “epidemic”

Photo credit:CBS News

Actor Michael Douglas has announced that his throat cancer was caused by the sexually transmitted disease human papillomavirus (HPV), raising awareness that the disease can be transmitted through oral sex and can lead to throat cancer.

According to Dr.Eric Genden, professor and chair of otolaryngology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai Hospital, HPV-related throat cancers in men are on the rise and are typically found in adults ages 40-65. Since there is no test to diagnose oral HPV, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stress the importance of taking protective measures for younger generations and knowing the signs of oral cancer for older generations.

CBS News, 6/3/13

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