Oral sex, ultra processed foods, and vaping are some of the possible factors responsible for the shocking rates of cancer among people under 50.
According to Cancer Research UK, while the cancer rate among older people in the UK still remain the highest, rates among young people have risen the sharpest since the mid-1990s, with a 19% increase among the 0 to 24-year olds and a 22% increase in people aged 25-49 – the steepest increase of all.
This trend is reflected globally, and as the endemic or pandemic of cancer as it has been widely argued, surges, doctors are striving to find the reason – or reasons – why.
While an increase in cancer risk has long been linked to smoking, red meat, environmental factors such as pollution and second hand smoke, and lifestyle habits like booze intake and weight, doctors are now looking at ultra processed foods, oral sex and vaping as some of the possible causes
Research published by the NCBI has linked oral sex and a higher number of casual sexual partners to a higher rate of mouth cancer in 40 to 49-year-olds.Also linked to mouth cancer, the human papillomavirus (HPV), is an STI which is also passed on through oral sex. The Telegraph reported that one study found that snogging, chiefly “deep kissing”, is linked to a greater risk, with people who deeply kissed with 10 or more people were twice as likely to develop an HPV-related cancer.
