RISE OF HPV-RELATED CANCERS IN MEN RAISES RED FLAGS
A suspected ear infection, a lifethreatening diagnosis — the manner in which Will Dove learned about his cancer — is experienced by Canadians every day.
While he was surprised and shaken by the diagnosis of throat cancer caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), Dove also knew of the possibility.
“I was well aware that HPV can cause cancer,” the Calgary father of two teens says. “That’s why my wife and I made sure our son and daughter were vaccinated.”
The past several months have been more than challenging for Dove, who lost 30 pounds during gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and radiation.
“My oncologist told me there is no cancer for which the treatment is harsher,” the 51-year-old says. “I’m a fitness nut, but when I was undergoing treatment, my wife had to take me by wheelchair into the hospital.”
Dove is speaking out about his private health struggle to help emphasize the link between HPV and cancer in men. He says while he now knows all the facts on HPV associated cancer, not enough people share this knowledge.
“Men are just as susceptible as women. There will be 4,400 new cases this year of HPV-associated cancer and 1,200 deaths in Canada.”
He is backed up in his mission to create greater awareness by Canadian Cancer Statistics 2016, an annual report published by the Canadian Cancer Society.
This year, the report highlights the rise of HPV-associated cancers of the mouth and throat in males that have increased by a staggering 52 per cent from 1992 to 2012, Over that time, it also increased in females by 17 per cent, with mouth and throat cancers now representing about one-third of all HPV cancers nationwide.
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection, with about 75 per cent of the population contracting it at some point in their lives. It can be transmitted through oral, vaginal and anal sex, often showing no symptoms.
In the majority of cases, says Dr. Eduardo Franco, an individual’s immune system can fight it off. In others, though, “it can be there for 10, 20, 30 years or more.”
Dr. Franco, chair of the department of oncology at McGill University’s faculty of medicine and a world-renowned HPV expert, says while the reason for the increase hasn’t been confirmed, those on the front lines studying HPV speculate that evolving sexual attitudes have played a role.
“Societal changes led to a definition of sexual activity that included oral sex,” he says, noting that differences in male and female anatomy make it more easily transmitted from female to male. “In the 1970s, a very small proportion of HPV-associated cancers were found in men.”
The increase in mouth and throat cancers, he says, makes it imperative that provincial governments ensure both males and females are being vaccinated. While girls in all provinces and territories can access the vaccine, it is only offered to boys in six provinces, including Alberta.
The immunization program for girls was met with initial reluctance in some quarters, including the Calgary Catholic School District, which banned the vaccination from its schools until 2012.
Robert Nuttall, assistant director of health policy for the Canadian Cancer Society, says not enough jurisdictions are heeding the call.
“In some parts of the country, 90 per cent of girls are receiving the vaccination. In other parts, it’s only about 40 per cent.”
A recent Alberta Health Services chart shows a more than 80-per-cent rate for both female and male students in Calgary receiving at least one dose of the free vaccine by the end of Grade 5. That number is a few points higher than the provincial average.
Along with throat, mouth and cervical cancer, HPV is also responsible for 90 per cent of anal cancers, 50 per cent of penile cancers and 40 per cent of vaginal and vulvar cancers.
Today, Will Dove has returned to his daily gym routine, mindful of the fact his cancer could return.
“I have a one-in-six chance that I’ll be dead in three years,” he says bluntly. “This could happen to any of us at any time.”
Still, he derives great satisfaction knowing that by having his daughter and son vaccinated, they likely won’t have to face a similar fate.
“What we want most as parents is to keep our kids safe,” he says. “That has been priceless for me.”
Dove adds he had no qualms about going public with his cancer fight, if it’ll help others.
“Can we dramatically reduce the incidence of HPV cancers with vaccine? You bet we can.”