Call for boy cancer vaccine

A new charity is urging the Government to deal with the 'ticking time bomb' that is throat cancer. Launched today, The Throat Cancer Foundation is asking for HPV vaccinations to be extended to all 12-year-old boys, as well as girls.

Treating throat cancer costs NHS £45,000 per patient

A charity launched today - The Throat Cancer Foundation - is warning throat cancer rates are on the rise and is calling for the HPV vaccine programme for girls to be extended to boys to prevent an epidemic.

  • Rates of oropharyngeal cancer in England and Wales have increased from 1,060 in 2006 to 1,780 in 2010
  • In Scotland, rates have more than doubled in the past 20 years

The charity argues that treating throat cancer, costs the NHS £45,000 per patient, but the cost of a HPV vaccine is just £45 per person.

Throat cancer is a 'ticking time bomb' says charity

Throat cancer is a ticking time bomb. Current HPV vaccination programme is discriminatory and a danger to public health.

When I myself was treated for throat cancer in 2010, I was alarmed by the lack of information for patients. The Throat Cancer Foundation will tackle this need head-on and give a voice to those whose lives are touched by this cancer.

Our aim is to raise public awareness of the causes, symptoms and prevention of throat cancers and ensure patients have access to a Gold Standard of treatment as well as fighting to eradicate this type of cancer in future generations.

– Jamie Rae, Founder and CEO of the Throat Cancer Foundation

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Medical experts back calls for throat cancer vaccine

Medical professionals are backing a new charity launched today - The Throat Cancer Foundation - which is calling for the extension of HPV vaccines, that could prevent throat cancer.

  • Oropharyngeal cancer (throat cancer) is cancer of the part of the throat used for speaking and swallowing
  • It is caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a common virus that lives on the skin, and can be passed through daily contact
  • There is no cure for HPV, but a vaccine does exist
  • Currently only given to girls to avoid cervical cancer, the Throat Cancer Foundation says it should be extended to all 12-year-old boys, as well as girlS

Charity calls for boys to be given throat cancer vaccine

A new charity is urging the Government to deal with the 'ticking time bomb' that is throat cancer.

Launched today, The Throat Cancer Foundation is calling for the introduction of a vaccine for boys to prevent an epidemic of throat cancer.

Calls for throat cancer vaccines to be extedned to all 12-year-old boys as well as girls Credit: David Cheskin/PA Wire

The HPV vaccine has routinely been given to girls in the UK since 2008, in an attempt to cut out cervical cancer rates.

According to the charity, oropharyngeal cancer - the part of the throat used for speaking and swallowing - affects over 3,000 people a year in the UK.