New vaccine shot for young boys pushed

 STUDIES have recommended that boys between 11 and 12 need to be vaccinated to prevent human papilloma virus (HPV) related to cancer, a doctor says. 

Dr Paki Molumi, the deputy head of the ear-nose-throat (ENT) section of the National Department of Health (NDoH) said the HPV not only caused cervical cancer in females but also many other cancers in both males and females.

He said some of these cancers caused by HPV included cancer of the anus, mouth, throat and penis.

Molumi said cases of cancer of the mouth and throat were on the rise in the country due to betel nut chewing.

However, in Port Moresby General Hospital ENT clinic, results showed oral cancer among a small number of young people less than 30 years old, who are non-chewers.

He said the number was increasing and research has to be done to confirm the trend. 

Molumi believes that HPV might play a role in the development of oral cancer in this group of patients.

He said betel nut chewing was the main cause of oral cancer in PNG and the risk of developing it increases in someone with HPV infection in the oral cavity, who chews betel nut. 

Molumi said girls would still contract HPV that causes cervical cancer later in life from boys through sexual contact.Molumi said if both boys and girls were vaccinated, then all HPV-related cancers could be prevented.