Male HPV-related oral cancer rates on the rise: Canadian Cancer Society

Mouth and throat cancers now represent about a third of cancers induced by HPV in Canada, according to a new report.

The Canadian Cancer Society and Public Health Agency of Canada released theirannual report on cancer statisticsWednesday, with a special chapter on cancers linked to the human papilloma virus.

Almost 4,400 Canadians will be diagnosed with HPV-linked cancers this year and about 1,200 die from it annually.

About onethird are cervical cancers.

"If you look at the trends there we're seeing that cervical cancer isrelatively stable," said Leah Smith, an epidemiologist with theCanadian Cancer Society. "But rates of HPV mouth and throat cancersin males are increasing."

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HPV infection is themost common sexually transmitted disease inCanada and the world, the society said.

Most people never even know they have the virussince theinfectionusually clears within twoyears without causingphysical symptoms. They can pass it on to their partners without knowing, which highlights the importance of prevention.

There is a vaccine to protect against most common types of HPVthat cause cancer.

"HPV vaccination is something relatively easy parents can do to protecttheir children from cancer," Smith said.

The HPV vaccine is offered to girls in all provinces and territories and to boys in Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, P.E.I. and Quebec.

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Smith said vaccination policies should reflect that one in three HPV cancers are diagnosed in males. That's why the society iscalling on other provinces and territories to expand free vaccination programs to boys.

Canadian men are more than fourtimes more likely to get an HPV mouth or throat cancer than women.

Why that's the caseisn't clear, Smith said.

"It does seem that the male immune system is responding differently toHPV infection than the female immune system," Smith said. "What we are seeing is menare more likely to get an oral HPV infection and then once they get theoral HPV infection, are less likely to clear [the infection.] It's thepersistence of HPV infection that ultimately lead to cancer."

Smith said the hypothesis is changes in sexual behaviour, including potentially oral sex, arebehind the increase in infections.

'My throat closed up'

Terry Patterson, 52, had a persistently sore throat and swollen glands in his neck in fall 2013.A biopsy confirmed that theWaterloo, Ont., man had a malignant growth in his left tonsil. The throat cancer was tied to an aggressive strain of HPV.

"It was a nightmare," Patterson said.

The father of four grown childrenhad 35 days of radiation treatment in Toronto, as well as chemotherapy to prevent recurrence.

"My throat closed up so I couldn't eat," he said, explainingthat for months, he receivednutrition froma feeding tube insertedin his abdomen. "I lost 45 pounds and got third-degree burns fromthe radiation."

Patterson, who was recently told he is now cancer-free,encourages parents to have their children vaccinated against HPV."I don't want anyone to go through what I did."

Leading cause of death in Canada

More generally, cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada, responsible for 30 per cent of all deaths, followed by cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke,and accidents.

New cancer cases and deaths continue to rise steadily as Canada's population grows and ages, according to a new report.

Current estimates suggest an estimated 202,400 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in Canada this year and there will be 78,800 deaths from cancer.

• Healthy lifestyle 'stacks the deck' for cancer prevention

Half of new cancer cases will be lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. Of these, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death more than the other three combined.

While the majority of Canadians who develop cancer, 89 per cent, are over50, cancer was also the leading cause of disease-related death in children under 15 in 2012.

The society saidthe risk of cancercan also be reducedthrough measures such as:

• Avoiding smoking: Tobacco is responsible fornearly one-quarter of cancer deaths worldwide,making it the single greatest avoidable risk factor forcancer.
• Following a healthy lifestyle: Eating well, beingactive and having a healthy body weight can preventabout one-third of the 12 major cancers worldwide,according to the American Institute for CancerResearch and the World Cancer Research Fund.
• Reducing alcohol consumption: Alcohol is a riskfactor for many different types of cancer, and the riskof cancer increases with the amount of alcoholconsumed.
• Avoiding overexposure to sunlight and not usingtanning beds or sun lamps: Limiting time inmidday sun, wearing protective clothing, seekingshade and using sunscreen can help reduce the riskof skin cancer while still allowing people to receivethe health benefits of sun exposure.
• Preventing cancer-related infections: Vaccines canprotect against some infections associated withcancer, such as the HPVand hepatitis B. Lifestyle can also play animportant role in preventing infection.
• Reducing exposure to environmental andoccupational carcinogens: These include radon, asbestosandmany industrial chemicals.