Human Papillomavirus Expected to Cause More Than a Million Cancer Cases
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is well established as a cause of cervical cancer. Now it's thought that the infection causes even more cases of head and neck as well as anogenital cancers. For the newest on HPV and cancer see: "Impact of HPV on Oropharyngeal Cancer". Obviously prevention is important and new vaccines appear to be safe and effective ("Efficacy and Safety of Prophylactic Vaccines against Cervical HPV Infection and Diseases among Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis") but what to do about the millions already infected? For some thinking along those lines see: "Human Papillomaviruses As Therapeutic Targets in Human Cancer".
Also of interest is a new discussion of the evidence for the proposition that male circumcision protects women from cervical cancer in "Male Circumcision and HPV Transmission to Female Partners". Combine such rediscoveries with the "Oops, sorry" reaction of those, including the WHO, who had recommended that infants be breast fed exclusively for six months (and who now must eat humble pie in light of studies showing that such advice, if followed, likely leads to food allergies or worse) and perhaps it's time for a new approach to activist-led health initiatives that seek to upend traditional practices. Since activists can't be made to pay for the injuries they cause (mass tort litigation generally being a search for deep pockets rather than truth) maybe we should at least require that any demand for an extraordinary change in traditional practices be backed up by extraordinary evidence.
