Michael Douglas revealed the cause of his throat cancer was not smoking and drinking - as he previously believed — but instead by performing oral sex. The 68-year-old actor was incredibly honest in an interview with The Guardian, explaining that he learned his cancer was caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).
What is human papillomavirus?
Genital human papillomavirus (also called HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). There are more than 40 HPV types that can infect the genital areas of males and females. These HPV types can also infect the mouth and throat. Most people who become infected with HPV do not know they have it. HPV is not the same as herpes or HIV (the virus that causes AIDS). These are all viruses that can be passed on during sex, but they cause different symptoms and health problems.
How do people get HPV?
HPV is passed on through genital contact, most often during vaginal and anal sex. HPV may also be passed on during oral sex and genital-to-genital contact. HPV can be passed on between straight and same-sex partners—even when the infected partner has no signs or symptoms.
A person can have HPV even if years have passed since he or she had sexual contact with an infected person. Most infected persons do not realize they are infected or that they are passing the virus on to a sex partner. It is also possible to get more than one type of HPV.
Very rarely, a pregnant woman with genital HPV can pass HPV to her baby during delivery. In these cases, the child can develop recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), a rare condition in which warts grow in the throat. In children, this is also referred to as juvenile-onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (JORRP).
Who is at risk for HPV?
Anyone who is having (or has ever had) sex can get HPV. HPV is so common that nearly all sexually-active men and women get it at some point in their lives. This is true even for people who only have sex with one person in their lifetime.
How do people get HPV?
HPV is passed on through genital contact, most often during vaginal and anal sex. HPV may also be passed on during oral sex and genital-to-genital contact. HPV can be passed on between straight and same-sex partners—even when the infected person has no signs or symptoms.
Most infected persons do not realize they are infected, or that they are passing HPV on to a sex partner. A person can still have HPV, even if years have passed since he or she has had sexual contact with an infected person. It is also possible to get more than one type of HPV.
In rare circumstances, a pregnant woman with genital HPV can pass the HPV on to her baby during delivery.
What are the potential health problems caused by HPV?
Most people with HPV never develop symptoms or health problems. Most HPV infections (90%) go away by themselves within two years. But, sometimes, HPV infections will persist and can cause a variety of serious health problems. Health problems that can be caused by HPV include
•Genital warts (warts on the genital areas);
•Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), a rare condition in which warts grow in the throat;
•Cervical cancer, cancer on a woman's cervix; and
•Other, less common, but serious cancers, including genital cancers (cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus), and a type of head and neck cancer called oropharyngeal cancer (cancer in the back of throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils).
All cases of genital warts and RRP, and nearly all cases of cervical cancer, are caused by HPV. A subset of cancers of the vagina, vulva, anus, penis, and oropharynx, are caused by HPV.
The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types of HPV that can cause cancers.
Michael Douglas throat cancer is due to Oral sex
Without wanting to get too specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV, which actually comes about from (giving a woman oral sex)," he said. The actor, currently enjoying rave reviews for his performance as famed pianist Liberace, told the British newspaper that he thought the diagnosis three years ago was sure to be a fatal one. The onslaught of bad news — including his son's incarceration and his rehabilitation stint for his wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, who suffers from Bipolar disorder - led him to believe stress was a trigger.
I did worry if the stress caused by my son's incarceration didn't help trigger it," Douglas said. "But yeah, it's a sexually transmitted disease that causes cancer. And if you have it, (giving oral sex to a woman) is also the best cure for it." According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, one tract of HPV — known as HPV16 — is known to be linked to oral cancer, manifesting itself in the back regions of the throat and mouth.
The "Wall Street" actor has been open about the incredible discovery of a walnut sized tumor in his throat almost nine months too late. In an interview with New York Magazine, Douglas detailed symptoms of toothaches and infections that stumped doctors. "After complaining for nine months and them not finding anything, and then they told me I was stage four?" he said. "That was a big day."
Noticeably thin for months, the actor lost 45 lbs while undergoing treatment."The amount of chemo I was getting, it zaps all the good stuff too," he said. "It made me very weak." Now, two years cancer free, Douglas said playing Liberace - who died of illnesses related to AIDS — was a "beautiful gift.""It was right after my cancer, and this beautiful gift was handed to me. I'm eternally grateful," he said. "For this to come along, when you're wondering if you have a career — you've had this big hiatus, you don't know what repercussions cancer has for being hired. It was something to look forward to."
(Source- nydailynews)
How can HPV be prevented?
There are several ways that people can lower their chances of getting HPV:
•HPV vaccines are recommended for 11- or 12-year-old boys and girls. HPV vaccines are safe and effective, and can protect males and females against some of the most common types of HPV that can lead to disease and cancer. HPV vaccines are given in three shots over six months; it is important to get all three doses to get the best protection. Boys and girls at ages 11 or 12 are most likely to have the best protection provided by HPV vaccines, and their immune response to vaccine is better than older women and men.
◦Girls and women: Two vaccines (Cervarix and Gardasil) are available to protect females against the types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers. One of these vaccines (Gardasil) also protects against most genital warts, and has been shown to protect against anal, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. Either vaccine is recommended for 11- and 12-year-old girls, and for females 13 through 26 years of age who did not get any or all of the shots when they were younger. These vaccines can also be given to girls beginning at 9 years of age.
◦Boys and men: One vaccine (Gardasil) is available to protect males against most genital warts and anal cancers. Gardasil is recommended for 11- and 12-year-old boys, and for males 13 through 21 years of age who did not get any or all of the shots when they were younger. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men should receive the vaccine through age 26 years. Males 22–26 years of age may also get the vaccine.
•For those who choose to be sexually active, condoms may lower the risk of HPV. Condoms may also lower the risk of developing HPV-related diseases, such as genital warts and cervical cancer. To be most effective, condoms should be used with every sex act, from start to finish. HPV can infect areas that are not covered by a condom - so condoms may not fully protect against HPV.
•People can also lower their chances of getting HPV by being in a faithful relationship with one partner; limiting their number of sex partners; and choosing a partner who has had no or few prior sex partners. But even people with only one lifetime sex partner can get HPV, and it may not be possible to determine if a person who has been sexually active in the past is currently infected. Because HPV is so common, and almost every sexually-active person will get HPV at some time in their lives, it is important to protect against the possible health effects of HPV.
