Cancer of the Oropharynx: Risk Factors, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Outcomes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can one get oropharyngeal cancer through kissing?  This is not fully known.  It is thought that deep kissing is a risk factor. Studies have shown that increased number of lifetime sexual partners is a risk factor for developing HPV-related throat cancer.

2. What are the ways one can avoid getting oropharyngeal cancer?  Currently, Guardasil, the tetravalent HPV vaccine (covers high risk HPV subtypes 6, 11,16 18), is the best recommendation for avoidance of HPV-related throat cancer.  However, it will work only for those patients who have not been exposed to the virus. Thus, the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is to vaccinate boys and girls before they become sexually active. 

3. If my partner has oropharyngeal cancer what is my risk of getting oropharyngeal cancer?  This is currently unknown.  However, there are no studies showing partners of patients with HPV-related throat cancers are higher risk in developing the disease than the general population.  For those, patients with partners who have HPV-related throat cancers, currently there are no recommendations for vaccination, nor avoidance.  It has to be kept in mind only a small portion of patients who carry the high risk HPV virus in their throat, will develop the disease.

4. Is there a test available to tell me if I have the high risk HPV virus in my throat?  No, currently there are no commercially available tests to check for the virus in the throat.

 

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