A form of cancer that traditionally affects men has been seen developing in increasing quantities over the past few years.
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, the rate of women developing different types of oral cancer has increased drastically in recent years.
While the rate of diagnosis has traditionally only seen one woman being diagnosed with some form of oral cancer for every six men who were, in the past 10 years the rate has become much tighter with one woman being diagnosed for every two men, CNN reported
The reason for the increase may be due to a link between human papillomavirus and the development of cancer in some women. While HPV is often found in many cases of cervical cancers, it can also have a similar ill effect if it becomes present in the mouth.
“The mouth is a perfect place for it to grow,” said prosthodontist Dr. Youssef Obeid, according to CNN, citing the moist, dark environment of the mouth that is ideal for HPV to cause irregular cells to grow.
He added that if HPV is transferred during oral sex, it can cause lesions that could become cancerous at times.
“It’s something we are very much aware of and look for, especially in women,” Obeid said.
Women who have developed HPV in their mouths are likely best served by receiving medications to treat and control the disease from a doctor. For those lacking insurance coverage, short-term loans may be able to cover any costs that may come with treatment.
