Latest news with #HPV-related
Straits Times
14 hours ago
- Health
- Straits Times
HPV-linked throat cancer on the rise among South Korean men
Find out what's new on ST website and app. In South Korea, the HPV vaccine has traditionally been considered a vaccine for women. SEOUL - Throat cancers linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV) are on the rise among South Korean men, according to a local expert on July 29 . Dr Park Jun-wook, a head and neck cancer specialist at the Catholic University of Korea's Seoul St Mary's Hospital, said the rising trend underscores the importance of raising awareness about HPV-related cancers and the need for vaccination among men . HPV is widely known as the leading cause of cervical cancer, and in South Korea, the HPV vaccine has traditionally been considered a vaccine for women. However, in recent years, medical experts have warned that HPV can also cause oropharyngeal cancer, a type of cancer that affects the upper part of the throat, especially in men. Oral sex with an HPV-infected partner has been widely considered a major route of transmission. Recent data further supports the need for men to get vaccinated. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, genital warts, primarily caused by HPV, were most commonly found among men in their 20s and 30s in 2023. In 2023, there were 14,146 male cases in their 20s and 19,719 in their 30s. This was approximately 4.4 times higher than the number of cases among women in the same age groups, which were 5,418 and 2,324, respectively. HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer is also on the rise. A 2023 report by the Korean Society of Otorhinolaryngology found that 487 men were diagnosed with HPV-caused tonsil cancer in 2019, a 2.6-fold increase from 187 cases in 2002. Dr Park also warned that these cancers can be difficult to detect early, as symptoms often are not immediately apparent. 'Head and neck cancers can be silent early on. If you notice a sore in your mouth that doesn't heal or a lump in your neck, you should seek medical attention promptly,' he said. Early detection is critical to improving survival rates. According to Dr Park, the five-year survival rate for advanced cases ranges from 50 to 60 per cent , but rises to over 80 per cent when the cancer is caught early. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
Korea Herald
16 hours ago
- Health
- Korea Herald
HPV-linked throat cancer on the rise among Korean men
Throat cancers linked to the human papillomavirus are on the rise among South Korean men, according to a local expert on Tuesday. Park Jun-wook, a head and neck cancer specialist at the Catholic University of Korea's Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, said the rising trend underscores the importance of raising awareness about HPV-related cancers and the need for vaccination among men. HPV is widely known as the leading cause of cervical cancer, and in Korea, the HPV vaccine has traditionally been considered a vaccine for women. However, in recent years, medical experts have warned that HPV can also cause oropharyngeal cancer, a type of cancer that affects the upper part of the throat, especially in men. Oral sex with an HPV-infected partner has been widely considered a major route of transmission. Recent data further supports the need for men to get vaccinated. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, genital warts, primarily caused by HPV, were most commonly found among men in their 20s and 30s in 2023. That year, there were 14,146 male cases in their 20s and 19,719 in their 30s. This was approximately 4.4 times higher than the number of cases among women in the same age groups, which were 5,418 and 2,324, respectively. HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer is also on the rise. A 2023 report by the Korean Society of Otorhinolaryngology found that 487 men were diagnosed with HPV-caused tonsil cancer in 2019, a 2.6-fold increase from 187 cases in 2002. Park also warned that these cancers can be difficult to detect early, as symptoms often are not immediately apparent. 'Head and neck cancers can be silent early on. If you notice a sore in your mouth that doesn't heal or a lump in your neck, you should seek medical attention promptly,' he said. Early detection is critical to improving survival rates. According to Park, the five-year survival rate for advanced cases ranges from 50 to 60 percent, but rises to over 80 percent when the cancer is caught early.
Scoop
7 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
Voices For Visibility: Marking World Head And Neck Cancer Day In Aotearoa New Zealand
Each year on July 27, World Head and Neck Cancer Day brings global attention to one of the most complex and under-recognised groups of cancers. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the Head and Neck Cancer Support Network Trust is calling for greater visibility, earlier detection, and improved care for people affected by these challenging cancers. Head and neck cancers affect the mouth, throat, voice box, sinuses, nose, and salivary glands. While they represent only about 4% of all cancers in New Zealand, their impact is far greater. Treatments often involve disfiguring surgery, radiation, chemotherapy—or all three—leaving patients with lifelong difficulties in speaking, swallowing, breathing, and eating. And yet, despite these challenges, the voices of those affected are often lost in our health system. A Growing Need for Change In recent years, we have seen an increase in HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers, particularly in younger people. At the same time, oral cancers continue to disproportionately affect older adults and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Māori patients often face worse outcomes due to delayed diagnosis and limited access to services. Despite advancements in treatment, our health system is struggling to provide timely and equitable care. Patients report delays in diagnosis, and insufficient support during survivorship. As one survivor told us, "You're patched up, but you're not put back together." We can do better. What We're Asking For The Head and Neck Cancer Support Network Trust believes that every New Zealander affected by head and neck cancer deserves: Timely, accurate diagnosis Coordinated multidisciplinary care Access to clinical nurse specialists and rehabilitation services Culturally appropriate support for Māori and Pacific patients A national action plan for head and neck cancer We also call for increased awareness in the general public and among primary care clinicians. Early detection saves lives—but only if people know what to look for. Persistent hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, unexplained mouth sores or lumps in the neck should never be ignored. Our Work The Trust is a national patient-led charity working to improve outcomes through advocacy, peer support, and education. We maintain online forums, connect patients with resources, and collaborate with clinicians to improve care. Most importantly, we listen to and amplify the lived experiences of survivors, carers, and whānau. On World Head and Neck Cancer Day, we honour their strength—and we recommit to fighting for a system that sees them, hears them, and heals them. What You Can Do Learn the signs and symptoms of head and neck cancer Share our resources with your networks Talk to your GP if something doesn't feel right Support our work at Together, we can bring head and neck cancer out of the shadows—and ensure no one faces it alone.
Euractiv
7 days ago
- Health
- Euractiv
A vaccine against cancer – but not for everyone
Some EU countries are beating HPV-related cancers, but others fail to provide life-saving measures. When Kim Hulscher sits upright at a table, her right leg swells. This is a lasting effect of lymphedema, a common cancer-related condition she developed after her cervical cancer treatment. 'I have to buy shoes that are twice my size because my foot won't fit into normal ones,' she says. Now, more than a decade after her diagnosis, she is speaking at the European Parliament during a conference titled 'Accelerating Progress Towards the EU's Goal of Eliminating HPV Cancers,' hosted by the European Cancer Organisation and the vice-chair of the Health Committee, Tilly Metz. Hulscher is there as co-chair of the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology – and as a cancer survivor committed to helping spare others what she went through. Hulscher's cervical cancer, like many others, was caused by a type of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which can often be prevented through vaccination and detected early through screening. Far from elimination Yet Europe is still far from stopping these cancers. According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer elimination means reducing incidence to fewer than four cases per 100,000 women. The most optimistic projections suggest that Europe could achieve this goal by 2050. In 2022, the ratio stood at 56 per 100,000 across the European Economic Area (EEA), which includes the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. Around 130,000 women were newly diagnosed, and 14,000 died. HPV-linked head and neck cancers also remain significant causes of mortality. In 2022, 86,000 people were diagnosed, 74% of them men. These cancers caused about 26,000 deaths across the region. Vaccination at a young age is the most effective way to prevent such deaths. Once sexually active, HPV infection is nearly unavoidable. 'It is as contagious as a cold,' said Hulscher. Another participant put it more vividly: 'HPV is like glitter – it gets everywhere: in your car, in your pockets. So it doesn't have to be penetrative sex to catch it.' Often, HPV infections clear up on their own without causing lasting damage, and only about a dozen of the over 200 known HPV types are cancer-causing. However, the only sure way to avoid infection with these is to live like a nun or a monk. Last year, the European Council adopted recommendations urging countries to fully vaccinate at least 90% of girls and significantly increase uptake among boys. All EU member states now offer gender-neutral vaccination. Only five EEA countries – Portugal, Sweden, Cyprus, Iceland, and Norway – have reached the 90% coverage target for girls. 'There is a lot of work to be done,' said Karam Adel, principal expert at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. He also noted a 'huge disparity between West and East,' with some countries reporting female coverage well below 50%. The price of inaction According to conference participants, vaccine scepticism, limited registries, and underfunded national vaccination programmes remain major roadblocks. The benefits of prevention, however, are not only medical but also financial. In a study involving six European countries (Romania, Poland, France, Austria, the Netherlands, and Germany), Maarten J. Postma, professor of medical sciences and an expert in health economics, estimated potential savings of €2.75 billion between 2030 and 2060. All it would take is for these countries to reach the 90% HPV vaccination target by 2030, along with WHO-recommended screening and treatment goals. 'We should conceive vaccination – and prevention in general – not as a cost but rather as an investment,' said Postma. Still, awareness remains low. "Consistently, studies show that whether it's children, young adults, or parents, people are unaware of the consequences of HPV infections," said Adel. He also stressed the importance of ongoing screening, even for those who are vaccinated, as vaccines do not cover all high-risk HPV types. Metz echoed the call for stronger education. "To truly eliminate HPV, we need progressive, inclusive, and scientifically accurate education – because empowering young people with knowledge is one of the most effective forms of prevention," she said. (de)
The Star
7 days ago
- Health
- The Star
‘Women don't prioritise their own health'
PETALING JAYA: Despite human papillomavirus (HPV) being widespread in Malaysia, many women remain unaware of the serious health risks it poses. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection, with nearly all sexually active individuals contracting it at some point, often without symptoms. High-risk HPV can lead to various cancers, including cervical, anal, oropharyngeal, penile, vaginal and vulvar cancers. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad recently revealed that over 10,500 women in Malaysia tested positive for HPV through cervical cancer screenings over the past five years, and 65% of women have not undergone any screenings in the past three years. Nurse Venmathi Pradeep Kumar, 24, from Ampang, said women often put others' health before their own. 'I think this is where perhaps the workplace can fund or organise health screenings for female employees. 'There can also be more culturally sensitive and inclusive health promotions or educational programmes, either at workplaces or schools,' she said. Librarian Erin Carina Jauti, 24, from Kuala Lumpur, said many women deprioritise health check-ups, including HPV screening. 'It's not because they don't care, they may not have the means either financially or physically. 'Like if you have to choose between seeing a doctor or paying rent or other commitments, which one would you choose? 'There are also rural women, who may find topics like period or cervical examination shameful,' she said. She called for more open conversations on HPV to break the stigma. She also suggested outsourcing screenings to general clinics at subsidised rates for wider access. Assistant manager Ang Xiwen, 32, from Kuala Lumpur, noted that the lack of urgency stems from poor awareness. 'I think the awareness itself among women is not strong enough, and that's why I don't feel the need to pay for screening. 'But I would appreciate it if the company provides free screenings for their female employees,' she said. Bank employee Alia A., 27, from Kuala Lumpur, admitted she was unaware of HPV-related risks. She urged the Health Ministry to intensify awareness efforts and make screenings part of employee medical benefits. 'I will gladly go to any GP to get a mandatory screening,' she said.
