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Oral cancer hpv
Hi.
About 9 years ago I had mild cervical dysplasia that cleared on its own and reverted to normal within a year. My husband and I started dating about 7 years ago and of course engaged in oral sex since. Just wanted o know what his risk of developing oral cancer now? I knew only at that time that hpv caused cervical cancer and thought men were just carriers with no ill effects. Anyway times have changed and now weve learnt that Michael Douglas had throat cancer from hpv and are a bit worried for ourselves. Can you explain his chances of developing this cancer and what we can do to be proactive about it, such as oral screenings. Thanks.
About 9 years ago I had mild cervical dysplasia that cleared on its own and reverted to normal within a year. My husband and I started dating about 7 years ago and of course engaged in oral sex since. Just wanted o know what his risk of developing oral cancer now? I knew only at that time that hpv caused cervical cancer and thought men were just carriers with no ill effects. Anyway times have changed and now weve learnt that Michael Douglas had throat cancer from hpv and are a bit worried for ourselves. Can you explain his chances of developing this cancer and what we can do to be proactive about it, such as oral screenings. Thanks.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
HPV-16 is one of the most common types and accounts for around 10-15% of genital HPV infections. At any point in time, 7% of the US population has oral HPV and 1% has oral HPV-16. At least 10 times more can be assumed to have had oral HPV-16 that cleared up or will be infected in the future. This rough calculation suggests a minimum of 30 million Americans infected orally with HPV-16 somewhere along the line. With only 12,000 throat cancers per year, it is clear that the lifetime risk is exceedingly low. (With some basic division, you can get an idea of the numerical risk, which is far lower than cancers that people really need to worry about, like breast, lung, colon, prostate, and so on.) Looked at another way: I'll bet that in your life, you have known of a number of friends or family members who had one of these or other cancers. But have you ever known one with throat or oral cancer?
As implied by your LOL comment, I also am skeptical of an HPV cure in the foreseeable future. The HPV vaccines have no effect on existing or past HPV infections. If your and your husband's only apparent risk is your past cervical dysplasia -- i.e. neither of you is sexually active with other partners and not likely to be in the future -- I would not recommend vaccination.
So you really need not be worried. You shouldn't give this another thought.
As implied by your LOL comment, I also am skeptical of an HPV cure in the foreseeable future. The HPV vaccines have no effect on existing or past HPV infections. If your and your husband's only apparent risk is your past cervical dysplasia -- i.e. neither of you is sexually active with other partners and not likely to be in the future -- I would not recommend vaccination.
So you really need not be worried. You shouldn't give this another thought.
Thanks doctor. Your response has eased my mind and was very clear and concise. My only query is you said 80% of the population has been exposed to hpv but not specifically the high risk types correct? 80% includes those with genital warts etc. I wonder what the percentage if Americans exposed to the hpv 16 strain responsible for cancers. That would significantly increase ones chances? Sorry for the hypochondriac response but I feel like so little was known even 10 years ago and worry what the next 10 years would bring. Maybe a cure? Lol. Wishful thinking I guess. Also would it be worth looking into the vaccine even we already have a high risk strain? Thanks again doc.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Welcome to the forum. Thanks for your question.
There's been a lot of media attention in the past several years to oral HPV and certain oral (actually, throat) cancers. The frequency of these cancers is rising, in fact has doubled in the US in the past decade. However, they still are rare, with only about 12,000 cases per year, a trivial number in a population of 300+ million. In contrast, probably 80% of the population has performed oral sex on partners with genital HPV infections -- so it is apparent that the vast majority of those people don't develop cancer. In fact, statistically your husband is at no higher risk for this still-rare cancer than is any other sexually active person. The case of Mr. Douglas, while a potentially valuable consciousness-raising event, should therefore not be alarming.
Only a single strain of HPV, type 16, is responsible for these cancers. Although HPV-16 is one of the more common types causing cervical dysplasia, with only mild dysplasia the odds are good it wasn't the type you had. But even if it was, I would stress that the vast majority of HPV-16 infections of the oral cavity (and elsewhere) clear up on their own without ever actually leading to cancer.
The notion of oral screening for HPV (especially HPV-16) is a matter of current debate and research. At the moment, such screening is not recommended, and there are no approved tests for it in the US. These recommendations could change, but for now, even people known to have oral HPV-16 are not necessarily at much higher risk than others. (A negative test now might be positive years later, for example.)
All people should have regular dental check-ups, and with the increasing knowledge about HPV and throat cancer, most dentists know what to look for to diagnose early cancer lesions -- and at early stages, most of these malignancies are easily treated. In fact, current research suggests that HPV-related throat cancer responds better to treatment than non-HPV-associated cancers.
It is possible some of this advice will change with ongoing research -- this is all very new -- but for now the bottom line is that you and your husband really should not be at all worried. During his routine dental check-ups, he might mention the concern to the dentist -- but at this point, that's all I recommend (and it's all that I do myself). HIs chance of having HPV related oral cancer someday is very low.
I hope this has been helpful. Let me know if there is anything you don't understand.
HHH, MD
There's been a lot of media attention in the past several years to oral HPV and certain oral (actually, throat) cancers. The frequency of these cancers is rising, in fact has doubled in the US in the past decade. However, they still are rare, with only about 12,000 cases per year, a trivial number in a population of 300+ million. In contrast, probably 80% of the population has performed oral sex on partners with genital HPV infections -- so it is apparent that the vast majority of those people don't develop cancer. In fact, statistically your husband is at no higher risk for this still-rare cancer than is any other sexually active person. The case of Mr. Douglas, while a potentially valuable consciousness-raising event, should therefore not be alarming.
Only a single strain of HPV, type 16, is responsible for these cancers. Although HPV-16 is one of the more common types causing cervical dysplasia, with only mild dysplasia the odds are good it wasn't the type you had. But even if it was, I would stress that the vast majority of HPV-16 infections of the oral cavity (and elsewhere) clear up on their own without ever actually leading to cancer.
The notion of oral screening for HPV (especially HPV-16) is a matter of current debate and research. At the moment, such screening is not recommended, and there are no approved tests for it in the US. These recommendations could change, but for now, even people known to have oral HPV-16 are not necessarily at much higher risk than others. (A negative test now might be positive years later, for example.)
All people should have regular dental check-ups, and with the increasing knowledge about HPV and throat cancer, most dentists know what to look for to diagnose early cancer lesions -- and at early stages, most of these malignancies are easily treated. In fact, current research suggests that HPV-related throat cancer responds better to treatment than non-HPV-associated cancers.
It is possible some of this advice will change with ongoing research -- this is all very new -- but for now the bottom line is that you and your husband really should not be at all worried. During his routine dental check-ups, he might mention the concern to the dentist -- but at this point, that's all I recommend (and it's all that I do myself). HIs chance of having HPV related oral cancer someday is very low.
I hope this has been helpful. Let me know if there is anything you don't understand.
HHH, MD
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