The New Player in Oral Cancer for Men

Human Papilloma Virus, the same STD that causes genital warts and cervical cancer in women, is now the top cause of oral cancer in men, responsible for more cases than either smoking or drinking. About 65 percent of oral cancer tumors were linked to HPV in 2007, according to the National Cancer Institute. While the same uptick isn't occurring among tobacco smokers. An increase in HPV-16 in the U.S. is changing the face of oral cancer to mostly white, male nonsmokers in their late thirties and early forties.

A development in the war on oral cancer is a new, easy test to check for oral HPV. OraRisk® HPV test is a screening tool that allows identification of types of HPV that could potentially lead to oral cancer. Early detection and identification of the presence or absence of oral HPV is important, as early oral HPV infections do not typically cause any clinical signs or symptoms.

Oral cancer has such a low survival rate because it is generally not discovered until it has spread to other areas, according to the CDC. Only half of people who've been diagnosed with oral cancer will live longer than five years.

To help screen for oral cancer our office performs a visual oral cancer exam. We also offer VELscope an advanced screening tool that can help discover problems much sooner than under normal light conditions. Catching oral cancer early is the biggest key to successful treatment.

Dr. Jeremy Smith