In the past, these types of cancer mostly occurred in adults over the age of 45, but in recent years, it has become increasingly prevalent in younger people between 20 and 30 years of age.

‘€œWhile part of the explanation of this can be attributed to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and the changing sexual behaviours of a younger generation where multiple partners and oral sex feature strongly, many other lifestyle practices also become significant in view of recent research results that indicate causal links between oral- and oro-pharyngeal cancer and cannabis and hubbly bubbly pipe smoking,’€ Maretha Smit, Chief Executive Officer of SADA said in a statement.

Cancer-causing HPV is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, usually during sexual contact. The same type of HPV that causes cervical cancer is responsible for some oral and oro-pharyngeal cancers, and are transmitted to this region of the body through oral sex.

Link between dagga and cancer

Dagga has the same risk as any smoking tobacco in that it contains carcinogens that may cause cancer. In addition, research has also identified a link between dagga-use and HPV-related oral cancers.

Professor André van Zyl from the University of Pretoria explained that, other than regular tobacco smoke, dagga modifies the immune system, thereby causing HPV to spread easier during oral sex. Once it has spread, the cannabinoids will also promote the persistence of the HPV infection, as well as promoting tumour formation by suppressing those parts of the immune system required to protect against cancer.

In comparison to non-smokers it was found that dagga users had a more than four-fold increased risk of developing HPV-positive cancer.

‘€œIn South Africa, the use of cannabis among school-going children is on the increase. Coupled with changing sexual behaviours in the same groups and where oral sex features prominently, these trends will most like lead to increases in HPV oro-pharyngeal cancers in the next 10 to 20 years,’€ said Van Zyl.

Water pipe not innocent fun

Water-pipe smoking, locally known as the Hubbly Bubbly or Hookah pipe, is growing in popularity among school-going children and young people worldwide. Often with the full knowledge and approval of their parents who believe it to be innocent fun.

But that is not the case at all’€”water-pipe smoking is just as addictive, and even more dangerous than cigarette smoking. According to Van Zyl, the idea that the water in the Hubbly Bubbly filters out harmful substances is untrue, and smoke from the water pipe contains nicotine, tar and heavy metals and exposes the user to high levels of carbon monoxide.

What makes the water pipe even more dangerous is that the cooling effect from the water, combined with the fruity flavours of the tobacco, creates a soothing effect allowing smokers to inhale the smoke more deeply than regular tobacco smoke. The water pipe is also smoked in sessions of up to 45 minutes, therefore exposing the smoker to a lot more carbon monoxide than cigarette smoke. ‘€œParticipants may inhale as much as the equivalent of 100 cigarettes,’€ said Van Zyl.

‘€œThe bottom-line message is that water-pipe smoking can deliver carcinogenic substances directly into the mouth and upper respiratory tract as well as the lungs,’€ said Van Zyl. ‘€œAt the very least it is as dangerous as cigarette smoking while a further worrying aspect of the water pipe is that it exposes young people to the habit of smoking, increasing the risk of addiction. Also, because it is happening under the critical age of 16, these individuals are at enormous increased risk to suffer various cancers under the age of 45 years.’€

There is the additional danger that the sharing of mouthpieces may spread other infectious agents such as herpes, hepatitis and tuberculosis.

Cancers associated with HPV, dagga and hubbly bubbly pipe smoking occurs mostly in young adults. ‘€œThese young people could never imagine that they might develop oral cancer, and, it is therefore imperative that regular dental check-ups are conducted to ensure an early diagnosis of cancer in either the oral cavity or in the oro-pharyngeal area,’€ Van Zyl concluded.

Source: South African Dental Association (http://www.sada.co.za)