Major increase in tongue and tonsil cancers

A major increase in cancers of the tonsil and base of tongue, largely due to sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV), is behind the efforts of a Cork hospital to raise funds for new equipment that would make treating these cancers more humane.

Consultant Otolaryngologist, Patrick Sheahan, a head, neck & thyroid surgeon at the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital (SIVUH) said they are hoping to acquire a “curved laser” machine to treat certain cancers that occur too far back in the throat to be treated using the hospital’s “straight laser” machine.

“The problem with HPV [oral] cancers is where they’re occurring, at the back of the tongue and the pharynx. You can’t treat it using a straight line laser,” Mr Sheahan said.