There was a new study that showed that people diagnosed with the human papillomavirus (HPV) appear to have a higher chance of obtaining a rare head and neck cancer caller nasopharyngeal cancer.
According to the Center of Disease Control HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). The virus infects the skin and mucous membranes. There are more than 40 HPV types that can infect the genital areas of men and women, including the skin of the penis, vulva (area outside the vagina), and anus, and the linings of the vagina, cervix, and rectum. You cannot see HPV. Most people who become infected with HPV do not even know they have it.
Is there a test for HPV? The answer is yes and no.
The HPV test on the market is only used as part of cervical cancer screening. There is no general test for men or women to check one’s overall “HPV status.” HPV usually goes away on its own, without causing health problems. So an HPV infection that is found today will most likely not be there a year or two from now. For this reason, there is no need to be tested just to find out if you have HPV now. However, you should get tested for signs of disease that HPV can cause, such as cervical cancer.
Nasopharyngeal cancer is a tumor that grows on the top of the inside of the mouth and/or behind the nose.
The American Cancer Society has more information about nasopharyngeal cancer which you can read about more here http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/CRI_2_3x.asp?rnav=cridg&dt=17.
To find out more about HPV, click here http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hpv.html.