05/03/2021
Yesterday was Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Awareness Day.
Did you know that 70% of oropharyngeal cancers - occurring in the tonsils and base of tongue - are caused by HPV? While most cases of HPV clear up on their own, a small but increasing number of young people are being diagnosed with HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer.
In the past these sorts of cancers were linked to smoking. But with less people smoking, these numbers have been declining. Instead, cancers of the mouth and throat caused by HPV are on the rise. In most cases, HPV is transmitted to the mouth via oral s*x.
In Australia, girls have been receiving the HPV vaccine since 2007 and boys since 2013. This is bringing the number of people carrying the virus down but there is still a part of the population that is not protected. The fastest growing segment of mouth and throat cancers is in healthy, non-smokers aged 35 – 55 who have been infected by HPV.
There is NO screening for oral HPV so it’s important to have regular checks by your dentist for abnormal changes in the mouth that could be a sign of cancer. These include:
- a sore in your mouth or on your tongue that doesn’t heal
- pain swallowing
- a sore throat
- a lump in the neck
- ear pain.
If you have any of these symptoms for more than three weeks see your dentist or doctor to get them checked out. Early detection is key.
We also encourage you to consider sharing this post with family and friends to help raise awareness.
To find out more about HPV visit: https://buff.ly/3kJFSkP or watch this feature from SBS, The Feed: https://buff.ly/2IjxPc6
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