Oral Sex Infection Triggers Cancer After 30 Years

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A British man, Jeff Bradford, has shared how a persistent sore throat led to a shocking diagnosis of stage three throat cancer linked to a long-dormant sexually transmitted infection.

Bradford, a personal trainer, initially believed his symptoms were caused by dust exposure during gym renovations. However, when the sore throat failed to improve after weeks, he sought medical attention. Doctors first treated him for tonsillitis with antibiotics, but his condition did not improve.

Months later in 2016, he was referred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for further evaluation. After undergoing surgery, he was diagnosed with advanced throat cancer.

Medical tests later revealed that the cancer was linked to HPV16, a strain of the human papillomavirus commonly transmitted through sexual contact, including oral sex. Doctors informed Bradford that the virus may have been in his body for over 30 years before developing into cancer.The diagnosis came as a shock to Bradford, who said he had no idea the virus could remain dormant for decades without symptoms.

He underwent 35 sessions of radiotherapy, describing the treatment as extremely painful, causing severe burns to his neck. Despite the difficult process, he was declared cancer-free in August 2016.

Now 62 and living in Forres, Bradford is speaking out to raise awareness about the risks associated with HPV and the importance of not ignoring persistent symptoms. He emphasized that early medical attention can be life-saving and urged others to seek help if something feels unusual.