Dental Solutions
“I love my teeth and my smile. The work was done very softly and pleasant, and Dr. Gross and his team really cared and even worked on “odd” hours as I was a bit pushed for time leaving USA for Europe. Thank you Dr. Gross – Thank you Renee and the rest of the team – You are great!”
- Pernilla
Oral Cancer in Men Associated With HPV
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
HPV stands for the Human Papilloma Virus. It is actually a group of over 80 viruses which all affect the skin and mucous membranes. They are transmitted either by skin contact or through objects which harbor the viruses such as door handles or cloth.
Of over 80 HPVs, some cause warts (papillomas) which could appear on almost part of the skin. Others cause pre-cancerous lesions (dysplasias) and develop into a cancer which spreads. These are HPV-16, HPV-18, HPV-31, and HPV-45. Much research has been done on HPVs 16 and 18, transmitted through sexual contact and known to cause perhaps 95% of cervical cancers. They are now also being linked to oral cancer.
Recent Increase of HPV in Men
According to a news report on MSNBC in February, 2008, Merck & Co., creator of the only available vaccine against HPV, is planning to ask government officials about making it available to boys. So far it has only been given to females. They hope this will prevent men from spreading the HPV virus and thus reduce the incidence of cervical cancer. But it may also benefit men by reducing male oral cancer.
This news report refers to an article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology that month. A study was done of 30 years of National Cancer Institute data on oral cancers. Researchers found that frequency of HPV-related oral cancer rose steadily in men between 1973 and 2004, becoming about as frequent as cancers caused by tobacco and alcohol.
Early Detection is Crucial
As with all cancers, survival chances are much better if the cancer is diagnosed in an early stage. Once a cancer enters the bloodstream, it can spread anywhere in the body, and is then difficult or impossible to treat. If you have noticed any small lesions in your mouth and are wondering if they should be checked — you are right. They should, especially if your lifestyle is one which increases your chances of HPV infection.
Your dental health can affect your general health in other ways too, besides HPV infection. Please see our page on Dental Health and General Health for more information.
At SmilePerfect, we offer cancer screening as a regular part of dental check-ups. The initial lesion could be anywhere in the mouth — lips, gums, tongue, palate etc. You may feel numbness, tenderness, a change in your bite, bleeding, or other symptoms. You can read more about oral cancer on our cancer screening page.
If you would like to learn more about oral cancer and how you can prevent it, please call or email one of our SmilePerfect offices — Boca Raton, Ft. Lauderdale, Plantation, or Deerfield, Florida. We will be glad to schedule a complimentary consultation for you.
SmilePerfect Locations: Galleria • Plantation • Deerfield • Boca
