Oral sex causes cancer?

[Johnny Canuck 5347]

While all of the activities that we may take part in do carry a risk of something, we all know that smoking is a leading cause of cancer, however that doesn't mean we shouldn't take all the proper precautions involved in our hobby.

 

I'm glad that Michael Douglas did make a recovery from his cancer as that is such a horrible disease, but I'm pretty sure his habit of smoking did play a role in this, not just HPV.

[Guest S*rca****sid]

What does this say about his wife? Did she have HPV?

[cat 262460]

HPV is very, very common and it takes years (decades) for cancer to develop. It's usually talked about in connection to cervical cancer in women and is considered the cause of cervical cancer in women who don't smoke. Poor lifestyle choices like smoking added to this virus is a problem but don't discount the virus on it's own not to do serious damage...

 

cat

[Sweet Emily J 172062]

It's also mentioned in the piece that he was both a drinker and smoker, which are the most common causes of oral cancers. I find it irresponsible to make such a claim to pinpoint the cause of his cancer as oral sex. It's much less likely that HPV was the cause over any of the other known causes.

 

Head and throat cancers usually develop faster than other cancers, but there are many symptoms that show up early before the cancer actually develops which can be detected by doctors and dentists, and early detection can be the lifesaver. Other cancers that are caused by HPV, including cervical cancer are very slow developing. Anyone who gets full blown cervical cancer has severely neglected their health and has not gotten their regular recommended check ups for many, many years. Regular pap tests pick up precancerous cells, long before cancer ever develops and very un-invasive action is taken to avoid cancer. It's very important for people to be pro-active with their health.

 

The main HPV vaccine, Gardasil, is now recommended in Canada for both women AND men aged 9-26, and women all the way up to age 45. I have had mine, and that combined with regular testing and checkups, gives me that tiny bit of extra peace of mind. :) Long live oral sex!

 

Additional Comments:

After backlash from leading sexual health doctors, Michael Douglas has since retracted his earlier statements about the cause of his cancer.

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2334749/Michael-Douglas-Oral-sex-caused-cancer.html

 

He also made a joke that if you do get cancer, cunnilingus is the best cure! lol ;)

[Athos 108589]

"Everything gives you cancer, there's no cure there's no answer"

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEzcLTAMrRA&sns=em

[Guest a**4*]

He is full of bullshit his cancer is from his smoking the man is lying couldn't come up with a reasonable answer so he blames oral sex get real

[oldblueeyez 15475]

Yep, agree with the bullshit consensus. While HPV may have been linked to his throat cancer, being a chain smoker could have made the different between HPV causing chronic inflammation and mutating his DNA or not, or the pace of its progress. Besides, he's Hollywood and always looking for headlines; this worked, and golly gee, just in time for "Behind the Candleabra (sp? can't be bothered to check)"

[cyclo 30131]

For those on the run who may not have time to read everything I've copied below, I'll cut to the chase. The Oral Cancer Foundation states "We wish to be clear. Infection with even a high risk HPV virus does not mean that you will develop oral cancer. Most people's immune systems will clear the infection before a malignancy has the opportunity to occur."

 

Michael Douglas is correct that there is a growing relationship between HPV and oral cancer. However he's incorrect in stating that it's likely to be the cause of his cancer. Michael Douglas' greatest risk factors were smoking, alcohol and age.

 

For those under 50, HPV may be replacing tobacco as the leading risk factor. However, only about 1% of those infected with HPV will develop cancer.

 

________________________________________________________________

 

The following quotes are taken from The Oral Cancer Foundation, which advocates for research, patient support and public education.

 

"Tobacco use in all its forms is number one on the list of risk factors in individuals over 50. Historically at least 75% of those diagnosed at 50 and older have been tobacco users... When you combine tobacco with heavy use of alcohol, your risk is significantly increased, as the two act synergistically (together). Those who both smoke and drink, have a 15 times greater risk of developing oral cancer than others."

 

"Historically the majority of people are over the age of 40 at the time of discovery, it is now occurring more frequently in those under this age. Exact causes for those affected at a younger age are now becoming clearer in peer reviewed research, revealing a viral etiology (cause), the human papilloma virus number 16."

 

"It is the foundation's belief, based on recent revelations in peer reviewed published data in the last few years, that in people under the age of 50, HPV16 may even be replacing tobacco as the primary causative agent in the initiation of the disease process."

 

"The human papilloma virus, particularly HPV16, has been definitively implicated in oral cancers, particularly those that occur in the back of the mouth... HPV is a common, sexually transmitted virus, which infects about 40 million Americans today. There are over 130 strains of HPV, the majority of which are thought to be harmless. Most Americans will have some version of HPV in their lifetimes, and even be exposed to the oncogenic / cancer causing versions of it. But only approximately 1% of those infected, have a lack of immune response to the HPV16 strain which is a primary causative agent in cervical cancer (with HPV18 ), cancers of the anus and penis, and now is a known cause of oral cancer as well... It does not appear that the HPV16 viral cause acts synergistically (together) with tobacco or alcohol...HPV16 represents a completely unique and independent disease process."

 

"So we wish to be clear. Infection with even a high risk HPV virus does not mean that you will develop oral cancer. Most people's immune systems will clear the infection before a malignancy has the opportunity to occur. It is likely that the changes in sexual behaviors of young adults over the last few decades, and which are continuing today, are increasing the spread of HPV, and the oncogenic (cancerous) versions of it."

[EsQ69 1338]

Just to add some humour to the whole thing

 

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/06/04/late-night-comics-jokes-douglas-oral-sex-story/2387475/

[emb3750 9398]

Now it seems Mr. Douglas is gracing us with a clarification...

 

http://www.ottawasun.com/videos/2434451802001

 

E.