Health charity ‘severely concerned’ by study highlighting lack of awareness between HPV and mouth cancer
New research shows as many as 85 per cent of Brits are unaware that the human papillomavirus (HPV) is a cause of mouth cancer. Investigation reveals 67 per cent do not believe oral sex can increase mouth cancer risk by sexually transmitting the HPV virus. Next week, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) rules whether or not to grant British boys the HPV vaccine, a proposal which has gained 73 per cent public support.
A new study investigating awareness of mouth cancer in the United Kingdom reveals a startling lack of awareness when it comes to the disease and one of its leading causes, the human papillomavirus (HPV), sparking concern for health experts.
Research carried out by the Oral Health Foundation finds as little as three in 20 (15 per cent) British adults recognise HPV, the world’s most common sexually-transmitted infection, to be a cause of mouth cancer.
The report also shows more than two in three (67 per cent) are unaware of oral sex increasing a person's mouth cancer risk by sexually transmitting the HPV virus.
During the next decade, HPV is expected to overtake smoking and excessive alcohol consumption as the leading cause of mouth cancer and with many unable to assess their own level of risk, Dr Nigel Carter OBE, Chief Executive of the Oral Health Foundation, is concerned this may lead to a growing number of mouth cancers being diagnosed too late.
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