HPV is such a common sexually transmitted infection that I bet you know people who have it, or perhaps have it yourself. According to the CDC, as many as 50 percent of sexually active men and women have it--some know they do, others don't. The latest on HPV and another cancer risk ...
Researchers from Dartmouth Medical School believe they have uncovered a link between HPV and a higher risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common form of skin cancer.
While the correlation piqued researchers' interest, it's too early, they say, to make blanket statements about whether HPV leads to or causes skin cancer (and it certainly doesn't in every case). Instead, they call for more research to get to the bottom of all of this.
As you already know, there are vaccines (like Gardasil) that protect against the HPV strains that cause cervical cancer. But there are more than 100 types of HPV, so one shot isn't going to make you bullet-proof.
As always, news likes this reminds me of the seriousness of STIs like HPV--even though it's common and in some cases treatable, it is something you do want to protect yourself from. And, with skin cancer in mind, if you do have HPV, it wouldn't hurt to get routine, annual skin checks from your dermatologist or family doctor to make sure skin cancer isn't sneaking up on you (which you should be doing anyway!).
Let's talk about HPV: Any questions, stories, concerns?
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