BARTLETT, Tenn. —Cancer specialists are urging everyone to get vaccinated for HumanPapilloma-Virus or HPV to ultimately prevent throat cancer. HPV is a sexuallytransmitted infection and very common.
“For everywoman who has throat cancer, there are four men that have throat cancer relatedto HPV,” said Dr. Courtney Shires a surgeon at West Cancer Center andResearch Institute.
Dr. Shiresspecializes in Throat Cancer. It’s a cancer that develops within the tissues atthe base of the tongue and within the tonsils.
She said, “Thistissue is less resilient to cancer invasion.”
She tells Local 24News, contrary to popular belief, Throat Cancer has a direct link to HPV, andnot just unhealthy habits.
Dr. Shires said,“The biggest reason is HPV. It’s not your typical cancer patient. Theseare not smokers, drinkers.”
She says HPV candevelop into cancer in the throat, and sometimes decades later, a patient canshow little to no symptoms. She recommends all children get vaccinated beforethey become sexually active as early as nine years old.
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