An increase in the number of men diagnosed with cancers in the throat and mouth may be linked with oral sex, top dentist warns

Since 2008, girls around the age of 12 in the UK are automatically given the option to be vaccinated against HPV, which can cause cervical cancer, yet increasing numbers of men are contracting oral cancer from the virus

Although HPV is likely to occur in men as much as in women, it is currently not on offer to young boys, despite the fact that around 2000 males die every year from an HPV-related cancer.

Ken, whose surgery is based in Sunderland but who is renowned for his expertise and lectures around the globe, said incidents of mouth, tonsillar and oropharyngeal cancers were becoming more common place and were often related to HPV. He said, “When I was a student more than 35 years ago I was told I would never see a case of oral cancer.

“Sadly I’ve seen 14 cases over the years, five of which led to the death of the patient. The good news is that it does have a great survival rate if it is caught early, but because it can be painless it often goes unnoticed – except by a dentist.”