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Human Papillomavirus Linked to Throat Cancer


Recently, there's been a lot of talk about the human papillomavirus (HPV) and the HPV vaccine on the campaign trail. But politics aside, new research is showing just how serious HPV is. According to a new study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, HPV may be responsible for the increase in throat-cancer cases.

Researchers found that three times as many people were diagnosed with oropharyngeal, a type of cancer that originates in the back of the throat, stemming from an HPV diagnosis in 2004 than they were in 1988. Researchers have already found that the number of HPV-related cancer cases — primarily head and neck — have been increasing over the decades. 

Scientists believe that this change may be due to changes in sexual behavior that increase the spread of the virus. Overall, researchers believe that there is an increase in sexual activity earlier in life, and people are having more sex partners. This knowledge will help health professionals to better treat and prevent oropharyngeal, according to the study authors. 
Have you or do you plan to get the HPV vaccine? Why or why not?

