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Increased risk of throat cancer and HPV

Smoking and tobacco have been linked to throat cancer for decades, but now a new threat is emerging – Human Papillomavirus (HPV). In countries like the US and Britain, this virus, which spreads through oral sex, has become the leading cause of throat cancer, even surpassing tobacco.

What is HPV and how is it spread?

HPV is one of the most common viral infections in the world. It is spread mainly through physical contact, especially oral sex. In most cases, this infection clears up on its own, but high-risk strains like HPV-16 and HPV-18 can live in the body for many years and cause cancer.

Dr. B., Surgical Oncologist, Fortis Hospital, Gurugram. According to Niranjan Naik, “If this virus persists in the body for a long time, it interferes with the normal function of the cells and can gradually transform into cancer. This process takes 10 to 30 years.”

HPV status in India

India has the highest burden of head and neck cancer. Head and neck cancers account for one-third of all cancer cases in the country. However, the main cause of throat cancer here is still tobacco, gutkha and khaini. Doctors say that HPV cases in India are less as compared to western countries, but they are continuously increasing.

The worrying thing is that now such patients are coming forward, especially men aged 40-50 years, who have never consumed tobacco, yet they are getting throat cancer. Doctors suspect that HPV may be behind it.

Early symptoms of throat cancer

According to doctors, if cancer is detected early then its treatment is possible. These symptoms should not be ignored:

– Constant hoarseness of voice
– Sore throat for more than two weeks
– difficulty swallowing
– ear pain
– lump in the neck or throat
– Unexplained weight loss

“90% of head and neck cancers are lifestyle . Early detection is curable, so it is very important to recognize the symptoms,” says Dr Subramaniam Iyer, Amrita Hospital, Faridabad.

Is the HPV vaccine effective?

The government recently launched an HPV vaccination campaign for 14-year-old girls, primarily to prevent cervical cancer, but the vaccine may also protect against other HPV- cancers, such as throat cancer. Experts are now also recommending boys be vaccinated, because HPV is spread through sexual contact and affects both sexes. Awareness is the most effective way of prevention.