Why more men are getting throat cancer like Michael Douglas
The Australian
Michael Douglas, pictured with his wife Catherine Zeta-Jones in 2011, raised the public’s knowledge of the link between throat cancer and oral sex. Picture: Matt Sayles/AP
FULL ARTICLE WRITTEN BY HELEN RUMBELOW FOR THE AUSTRALIAN
SUMMARY:
The article published as 'Why more men are getting throat cancer like Michael Douglas' explores the increasing prevalence of HPV-related throat cancers, especially among men, and the urgent need to raise awareness.
Michael Douglas’s controversial 2013 claim that his throat cancer was caused by oral sex shocked the public but highlighted a serious health issue. HPV (human papillomavirus), widely known for causing cervical cancer in women, is now causing more throat cancers than cervical cancers in the UK, particularly oropharyngeal cancers (affecting the tonsils and base of tongue).
- Men are disproportionately affected, with rates of HPV-related throat cancer doubling those in women, and the numbers are rising.
- Contributing factors include the number of oral sex partners and men’s weaker immune response to HPV.
- Most people contract HPV in their lifetime, and while many clear it naturally, in some, the virus lingers and can cause cancer decades later.
- Despite strong evidence, awareness remains low, largely due to embarrassment about HPV's sexual transmission. Unlike cervical cancer which has benefited from successful public health campaigns and routine screening, there is little recognition of HPV risk in men, even among healthcare providers.
- Experts urge greater education, earlier diagnosis, and higher HPV vaccination rates, particularly in boys, whose uptake still trails that of girls.
