Oropharyngeal Cancer
The presenting of a typical oral cancer patient i.e. with a history of smoking and alcohol abuse is now declining. However, an increased oropharyngeal cancer is seen now with a personal history of multiple sex partners, and oral sex practice. HPV type 16 has been isolated in the oral lesions of about 70% patients with oral cancer. This strain of virus is a high-risk type. This means that certain viral proteins mutate the activity of tumor suppressor genes and/or the oncogenes. The end result of either or both activities is to cause the cells to proliferate unhindered at division checkpoints.
The cells usually involved are the flat cells in the superficial layer of the mucosal epithelium of the oral cavity, the squamous cells. The symptoms can be:
- A sore or an ulcer that does not go away
- Painful swallowing
- Hoarse voice
- Swollen tonsils
- Pain in the ears