HPV and oral cancer
It has been known for some time the HPV is associated with oral cancer, and it is felt to be responsible for roughly 25 percent of oral cancers in the US, particularly HPV 16, one of the strains covered by the vaccine. Just as we are not telling women to become celebate for life to avoid infection, simple measures can be taken lower the risk of oral cancer. We advice women to get regular Pap smears, and perhaps we should be stressing that men and women alike see their dentists regularly. Most dentists routinely screen for oral cancer. In addition, a diet high in fruits and vegetables accelerates the clearance of HPV viruses, lowering the chance for infection to progress to cancer. While the debate continues on whether or not we should vaccinate males, or more radically segregate men and women to different continents, up the intake of your fruits and veges!
Lynne Eldridge M.D. Author, "Avoiding Cancer One Day At A Time: Practical Advice for Preventing Cancer"
Biting the hand that feeds IT
