June 3, 2013

expert reaction to Michael Douglas on HPV and throat cancer

In an interview in the Guardian Michael Douglas blamed a cancerous tumour in his throat  on oral sex, saying it was caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Professor Robin Weiss FRS, Emeritus Professor Of Viral Oncology, UCL, said:

“Although some throat cancers carry HPV (and have a better prognosis if they do), smoking and alcohol can be cofactors in inducing throat cancer.  This type of cancer is relatively uncommon in the adult population yet oral sex is common and far, far more people carry the virus in their throats than actually develop the cancer.  Thus smoking and alcohol quite likely played some role in his case.  The notion that continuing with oral sex is curative is ridiculous!”