KTIV News 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and SportsResearch says HPV linked to cancer of the mouth

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association says the number of oral cancer cases is on the rise in the U.S. The study says the reason is two-fold, tobacco use.. and the spread of the sexually-transmitted disease... HPV.

Almost 7-percent of American men and women are infected orally with the human papillomavirus. That's what a new study done at Ohio State University's Comprehensive Cancer Center revealed. "Up to 80% of women will have HPV at some point in their life," said Dr. Holtz. Up until now, the belief was that HPV strains 16 and 18 caused the majority of cervical cancers in women. "That's why we do Pap Smears," said Dr. Melissa Holtz.

But now research is showing that virus, specifically strain 16, has migrated to the mouth causing oral cancer. "Tremendous upswing that's happening, with oral cancer, is in a younger, previously not at risk, group," said Dr. Wheelock. The study also found men are five times more likely to be infected orally than women. "Any act of intercourse, including oral sex, could lead to the spread of HPV," said Dr. Holtz. And don't think a condom will protect you. Dr. Melissa Holtz of Siouxland OBGYN says the human papillomavirus can be all around the that area of the body... not just on the sexual organs. "They're not protected by the condom, and so it could be spread despite the use of a condom," said Dr. Holtz.

But here's the good news about oral cancer. "If you catch it early, it is relatively curable. It has a high percentage rate. The problem is 70% of them are caught late," said Dr. Wheelock. To catch it early, Dr. Doug Wheelock at Wheelock and Bursick Dentistry uses the Velscope to look for cancerous lesions. "What we're looking for in the mouth, we're looking for irregularities, color changes, changes in texture of the tissue, thickness, lumps, that kind of stuff," said Dr. Wheelock. The Velscope makes seeing those irregularities easier. "Normal tissue fluoresces and looks green. Abnormal tissue looks dark," said Dr. Wheelock. Patients say it's painless. "Oh, it's much easier than getting your teeth cleaned," said Jim Johnson. If an irregularity is found, the dentist determines if it's the type of spot that should be biopsied by an oral surgeon. "The journals are saying this is something that is someday going to become the standard," said Dr. Wheelock. "Looking for cancer is something that's got to be on everybody's mind," said Jim. To prevent a virus that's moving from one part of the body, to another.

The HPV vaccine can protect you from the virus. The CDC recommends all girls and boys ages 11-to-12 get the vaccine, however it's not required. The vaccine protects against 4 strains of the virus... including the ones that cause cervical and oral cancer.

One more interesting tidbit, Dr. Wheelock says the other factor in the increase of oral cancers is the mixing of alcohol and tobacco use. Apparently, together the two greatly increase your risk of getting the disease.