Latest news with #squamous cell carcinoma
The Sun
07-08-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Oral sex could increase your risk of SKIN cancer – the 3 ways to protect yourself
SCIENTISTS have discovered a new cause of skin cancer - and it's linked to oral sex. Human papillomavirus (HPV), one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK, is primarily transmitted through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity, including oral sex. 3 3 It's previously been linked to increased risk of several cancers, including anal, head and neck, throat, penile cancer and cervical cancer. But now, US researchers say the virus could also cause a deadly form of skin cancer - squamous cell carcinoma. Scientists from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) discovered the link after a 34-year-old woman was referred to the clinic. She presented with 43 spots of the skin cancer on her face, hands and legs. But while she had surgery to remove them, as well as immunotherapy, the cancer returned. Doctors first suspected sun damage and a weak immune system, but later found the beta-HPV virus had inserted into her skin cells' DNA and was producing viral proteins, taking control of the cells. Dr Andrea Lisco, a virologist who led the study, said: "This discovery could completely change how we think about the development, and consequently the treatment, of [skin cancer] in people who have a health condition that compromises immune function. "It suggests that there may be more people out there with aggressive forms of [skin cancer] who have underlying immune defect and could benefit from treatments targeting the immune system." The woman in the case report was found to have a genetic condition that weakened her T-cells (a type of immune cell), leaving her unable to fight off the virus. Doctors treated her with a stem cell transplant to restore her immune system. Urgent health alert as most sexually active will get cancer causing virus at some point in life Three years later, her skin cancer hadn't returned, and other HPV-related complications, such as growths on her tongue and skin, had disappeared. The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and are preliminary, only suggesting a potential link between HPV and skin cancer. Three ways to protect yourself from HPV The most effective way to protect yourself from HPV is to get the HPV vaccine. Additionally, practising safe sex, such as using condoms, and getting regular screenings can further reduce the risk of infection and potential health problems. HPV vaccination In the UK, the vaccine is routinely offered to children aged 12 to 13, but is also available for older individuals who may have missed it, especially those at higher risk. The vaccine is most effective when administered before the first sexual contact, but it can still provide protection even after sexual activity has begun. 3 How do you know if you have HPV? HPV doesn't usually cause any symptoms, which means most people who have it don't realise and don't have any problems. But sometimes the virus can cause painless growths or lumps around your vagina, penis or anus (known as genital warts). Genital warts appear on their own or in a group (groups of warts can look like a cauliflower. They may feel soft or firm, and be white, red, skin-coloured, or darker than the surrounding skin. Source: NHS Safe sex practices Using condoms consistently and correctly during sexual activity can significantly reduce the risk of HPV transmission, though they don't offer complete protection as HPV can affect areas not covered by the condom. Dental dams can also be used to reduce the risk of transmission during oral sex. And being in a mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who also has only had sex with you can also reduce the risk. Screening and testing Regular screenings, such as Pap tests and HPV tests, can help detect HPV and abnormal cell changes early, allowing for timely intervention and prevention of cervical cancer. Guidelines recommend starting Pap test screening at age 21 and continuing until age 65 for most women. Other ways to reduce skin cancer risk Sun protection Limit sun exposure: Avoid prolonged sun exposure, especially during peak UV hours (usually between 11am and 3pm). Seek shade when outdoors, especially during these hours. Sunscreen: Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, and reapply it every two hours, or more frequently if swimming or sweating. Protective clothing: Wear clothing that covers your arms and legs, and choose a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face, neck and ears. Sunglasses that offer UV protection are also crucial. Skin self-exams and professional check ups Regular skin checks: Regularly examine your skin for any new moles, changes in existing moles, or any unusual spots. Pay attention to the ABCDEs of melanoma: Asymmetry, Border, Colour, Diameter, and Evolving. Dermatologist visits: Schedule regular skin exams with a dermatologist, especially if you have risk factors like a family history of skin cancer or a history of sunburns.
Daily Mail
06-08-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Virus spread through oral sex linked to soaring skin cancer rates for first time in major study
One of the UK's most common sexually transmitted infections (STI) which can spread via oral sex has been linked to skin cancer for the first time. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the second most common STI in the UK, after chlamydia, with around four in five people estimated to have HPV at some point in their lives. The virus is already known to raise the risk of six types of cancer, including anal, head and neck, throat and a number of gynaecological cancers such as cervical. But now, US researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) say the virus could also cause a deadly form of skin cancer, known as squamous cell carcinoma. More than 25,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with the disease every year, making it the second most common form of skin cancer. While it is highly survivable in the early stages, when caught late it can spread to other areas of the body where it becomes far more difficult to treat. The scientists discovered the link after a 34-year-old woman was referred to the clinic, presenting with recurrent skin cancer despite multiple surgeries and a round of immunotherapy. Her local GP initially dismissed her symptoms as an inherited condition, believing she was more sensitive to radiation and struggled to repair cells damaged by UV radiation. But analysis at the NIH revealed HPV had incorporated itself into the genes of her cancer cells, which researchers suspected had led them to become more aggressive. Further tests showed that her skin cells could still repair sun damage, suggesting ultraviolet (UV) exposure was not the main driver of her skin cancer. Dr Andrea Lisco, a virologist who led the study, said: 'This discovery could completely change how we think about the development, and consequently the treatment, of [skin cancer] in people who have a health condition that compromises immune function. 'It suggests that there may be more people out there with aggressive forms of [skin cancer] who have underlying immune defect and could benefit from treatments targeting the immune system.' The findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine last week, are still preliminary and only suggest a potential link between HPV and skin cancer. More research is needed to confirm the findings, and it is not clear at this time what proportion of skin cancer cases may be caused by the virus. The patient was immunocompromised and unable to produce enough healthy T cells, a key part of the immune system, to fight off the virus. Doctors treated her with a stem cell transplant to restore her immune system. Three years later, her skin cancer has not returned, and other HPV-related complications, such as growths on her tongue and skin, have also disappeared. Researchers said she was infected with beta-HPV, a type of HPV that is present on the skin and can be spread through sexual contact. The variant differs from alpha-HPV, which is linked to cancer in the throat, anus and cervix. Researchers found that the virus had embedded itself in the cancer cells' DNA and was driving them to produce viral proteins, triggering mutations that likely fueled the tumors growth. In persistent HPV infections, studies suggest that mutations occur in cells that lead to the development of cancer. The immune system normally clears the infection by itself, with many patients unaware they ever had HPV. But in some cases the infection can cause symptoms, like warts, with doctors treating these using surgery or prescription creams to destroy the growths. Experts have repeatedly urged people to get the HPV vaccine to reduce their risk of HPV cancers. Yet, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the UK's HPV vaccine uptake lags shockingly behind other countries — just 56 per cent among girls and 50 per cent for boys. Denmark, by comparison, records a rate of around 80 per cent. Cases of squamous cell carcinoma, however, have spiked in recent years and risen by 200 percent in the last three decades, estimates suggest. This has primarily been linked to more exposure to UV rays from the sun and tanning beds. Warning signs of the cancer include a firm, raised bump or nodule on the skin, or a scaly, red or pink patch or sore that does not heal. Those with long-term sun exposure, fair skin, or who are over 65 years old are most likely to be diagnosed with the disease. Men are also twice as likely to be diagnosed as women. Doctors normally treat the cancer using surgery or chemotherapy, and it has a good survival rate. More than four in five cases are caught in the early stages, where patients have a five-year survival rate of 99 percent. But if the cancer spreads in the body, this drops to 20 percent.
The Independent
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Tributes paid to ‘gifted' 80s metal frontman
Rock singer David Roach, co-founder of the Eighties heavy metal band Junkyard, has died at the age of 59. Roach passed away after a courageous battle with an aggressive form of squamous cell carcinoma, a skin cancer affecting his head, neck, and throat. His death occurred just weeks after he married his wife, Jennifer, who had left her full-time employment to care for him. Junkyard's surviving members released a statement describing Roach as a "gifted artist, performer, songwriter and singer" and a "devoted father, husband and brother." Roach co-founded Junkyard in Los Angeles in 1987, releasing their self-titled debut in 1989 and later reuniting with bandmates for further albums.
