INFECTION with a virus raises the risk of throat cancer, researchers at Oxford University have found.
More than a third of those who had oropharyngeal cancer were infected with the HPV virus.
HPV — or human papillomavirus — can spread through oral or genital contact and those who have had a number of oral sex partners have a higher risk of being infected.
Hollywood actor Michael Douglas recently revealed that his throat cancer was caused by HPV.
Sara Hiom, of Cancer Research UK, said: “HPV is extremely common. About eight out of 10 people will be infected with it at some point.
“Practising safer sex may reduce the risk of getting HPV, but condoms won’t stop infections completely.”
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