Unprotected oral sex with multiple partners can give you cancer of Oro Pharyngeal and tonsillitis.

Having unprotected oral sex with multiple partners cannot only put to threat of contracting oro pharyngeal cancer or cancer of airway pipe or tonsiler cancer. Oro Pharyngeal Cancer is a disease in which cancer cells are found within the anatomical borders of the oropharynx.

“Earlier, this type of cancer was commonly found in people addicted to smoking and drinking alcohol. But, now also non-smokers or tea-totlers are diagnosed with oro pharyngeal cancer because of its association with Human Papilloma Virus(HPV),” says experts.

25 year old, Yousuf Aalam ( Name Changed) an unmarried Software Engineer was diagnosed with oro pharyngeal cancer. He never smoke or consumed alcohol, but when investigated, he told revealed of his sexual habits. He told the doctor that he had casual oral sex with couple of girls. Later the tests confirmed through the biopsy, he had tonsiler cancer, in which the histology picture showed indications of a viral itiology.

Dr Ashok Shenoy, Consultant, Head and Neck Surgeon, HCG Cancer Hospital said: “Cancer of oro pharyngeal or cancer of tonsillitis is commonly seen in those addicted to alcohol or tobacco products. It is also spread through HPV and mostly contracted by young males. HPV travelling through unprotected sex makes youth more prone to it.”

“The risk of HPV infection of the mouth and throat is increased in those who have oral sex and multiple sex partners. These infections are common and rarely cause symptoms. Although HPV infection is linked to oropharyngeal cancer, most people with HPV infections of the mouth and throat do not go on to develop this cancer,” added Dr Shenoy.

It is a mystery that has baffled even the medical fraternity. For some unknown reason, Bangalore’s male population has the highest incidence of brain tumour in India.

A population-based research study conducted by Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) says 4 out of every 1 lakh males in the city contract brain tumour. The rate of females affected is 2.7. Delhi comes a close second with 3.5 males every year, while women in Sikkim leads with 4 out of 1,00,000 new cases. Neurosurgeons and neurologists say there is no particular reason for one contracting brain tumour.

Sometimes, even a small injury in the brain can lead to cancerous or noncancerous tumour.
The symptoms can be an early-morning headache with projectile vomiting or seizure. In children who cannot complain of headache and vomiting, difficulty in walking and bumping into objects are suggestive symptoms.

Dr HV Madhusudan, consultant neurosurgeon, HCG Cancer Hospital, said: “Many of the brain tumours tend to be malignant. There are four stages. If you diagnose early, grade 1 and 2 tumours can be cured completely through surgery. Grade 3 and Grade 4 tumours are not completely curable, though we can have periods of disease-free survival with with surgery followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy.” CASE STUDY Shiv Shankar, (50), a tabla artiste from Bangalore, was diagnosed with tumour in the pituitary gland. The tumour was causing him a lot of hormonal problems. He had Acromegaly, a common symptom of pituitary tumour, where the fingers and toes are swollen. It was also affecting his vision and the lips protruded. He couldn’t play the tabla as his fingers were swollen. It was almost an inoperable case. He said: “I couldn’t believe doctors when they told me I had a tumour in the brain. I visited several hospitals in the city to know more about it. Some of the doctors told me that I would have to undergo surgery through the nose. I was to take a second opinion when a specialist told me about the latest cyber knife technology.”

Shiv Shankar underwent treatment at HCG Cancer Hospital and has recovered from the tumour. He is now back to playing the tabla and is leading a healthy life.

On World No Tobacco Day on Thursday, the city-based cancer care hospital Health Care Global Enterprises (HCG) displayed a giant model of human lungs (one healthy and other tobacco abused) at a city mall to create awareness about the ill-effects of smoking. Measuring 8.5 ft in length with 10 ft in width and made of thermocol, it is the largest such model in India. It will feature in the 2013 edition of the Limca Book of Records, an HCG release said.

Citing WHO reports, HCG director Dinesh Madhavan said that in India, 11 per 100,000 males and 3 per 100,000 females are diagnosed with lung cancer.

“There has been a drastic increase in cancers of the lung, head and neck, due to increased consumption of tobacco. By creating the largest structure of a healthy and a tobacco abused lung, we are trying to educate the public on harmful effects of tobacco. We are joined in this educative drive by corporate firms and other medical establishments,” Madhavan said.

Dr Ashok Shenoy, consultant, head and neck surgeon, HCG, said, “An Anti-tobacco Act must be enforced strongly. Awareness should be created among the impressionable age of 13, where 60% of them would have tried tobacco products at least once.”

Expressing concern over increase in the incidences of various types of cancers, he said, “It’s time to get our act together and encourage the ban of tobacco products in the state by awareness, education, and legislation.”