Men Face a Much Higher Risk of Throat Cancer Than Women, Study Finds

While rates of cervical cancer are declining, there is a documented rise in oropharyngeal cancers—malignancies of the mouth and throat—linked to the human papillomavirus (HPV). This trend is most pronounced among middle-aged and older men. Research from the U.S. shows that cases of this specific cancer more than tripled between 1988 and 2004. Similar data from Denmark indicates a threefold increase between 2000 and 2017. HPV consists of various strains, including "high-risk" types that can trigger malignant growths. The virus is transmitted through sexual contact, including oral sex, via micro-tears in the skin or mucous membranes.