Over the last decades physicians observed a significant increase in incidence of oral cancers among young patients. Although oral cancer was considered quite rare in young patients and mostly related to advanced age, smoking and alcohol abuse, its incidence is currently increasing among 30- to 50-year-old patients who never smoked but infected with the human papillomavirus or HPV. Luckily this new type of cancer is not very aggressive and the latest treatment options available like robotic surgery can provide a substantial benefit compared with open neck surgery or neck irradiation.
Doctor Tipster, by Andreea Daniela, 03/01/2012
Additional coverage: Science Codex HealthCanal, Newsline
Tags: Cancer, HPV, human papillomavirus, increase in oral cancer among younger patients, neck irradiation, open neck surgery, robotic surgery