Increase in Oropharyngeal Cancer

There’s an increase in the number of young adults, especially men, suffering from a type of cancer that affects the tongue and tonsils.

It’s called oropharyngeal cancer and about two-thirds of the reported cases in the United States are related to the human papillomavirus, or HPV.  Dr. Scott Wegner said if left untreated, the mortality rates of this cancer are extremely high.

"We know that oropharynx cancers that are caused by HPV tend to be more advanced and more aggressive at the time of diagnosis, but they also tend to respond better to treatment," said Dr. Wegner.

Dr. Wegner said that treatment includes a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.  Dr. Vicki Whitacre said that changes in sexual practices has more people engaging in oral and rectal sex.

"It used to be if you drank and smoked, you got cancer of the mouth area, but now the biggest increase in oral cancer is coming from the HPV virus, which affects the throat area because people are not using protection like condoms or dental dams," said Dr. Whitacre.

Dr. Whitacre said that having sex with multiple partners also increases the risk of oropharyngeal cancer.