I'm sure this will get picked up by the OCF RSS news feed -- but for those who don't subscribe to that feed, the Chicago Tribune has an article today (Sun. June 8) about the HPV connection to oral cancer, along with a short sidebar on screening.

-- Leslie

Its great that papers with a large readership are publishing stories on that.

THROAT CANCER!!!! What the frack is up with that? This is oral cancer, ORAL Squamous Cell Carcinoma!!! No wonder people don't hear of oral cancer.... the media after researching an article can't even get it right. And have you read the LAME comments about the story that follow it? So far 36.... read the comments from these rocket scientists, and be proud that we are such a tolerant and intelligent population of people.

Brian,
Apparently the throat is now a separate entity from the oropharynx as declared by the journalist who wrote the article. I feel that your vent was a little lax in that area and could have had a little more Ummph or 4 letter words like, $#@%, ####, and $#@%! Cause, after I read the article and your post I used those words.
When are the mass media gonna get the story straight?
I share your pain Brian.
Kindest Regards,
Mike

To be fair, the May 2007 news release from Johns Hopkins about this research was titled "HPV Infection Linked to Throat Cancers" -- so the Tribune reporter should not be the sole target of any venting.

You could always send a letter to the editor (online submission form here) or write to the public editor (ombudsman), Timothy McNulty, urging a clarification.

-- Leslie

Leslie B,
You are correct in the "Fair" part and I respect your due diligence in this. Now I'm gonna vent a little. All to often I have seen articles in journals and the media pulling the heart strings of the masses and see the obvious disconnection of the oral cavity (mouth) from the rest of the body. You and I and almost everybody on this site knows the difference. We are few and the media in their minor misinformation are not helping the masses. We have all heard the joke, "What do you call a Dentist who comes last in his class?"....Dentist. FYI Dentistry used to be a specialty after medical school. Well if this minor little media reporter could delve a little deeper into the realms of oral cancer he may have been able to help the whole situation.
I am not trying to demean the releveance or the message or promote my profession but put forth the importance of getting the facts straight; attention to the tiny (not so tiny as I see It) details, some attention to oral cancer may have been gained as Brian has eluded to.
Cheers,
Mike

I have talked many times to Gillison about this. She agrees that the tonsils are not part of the throat nor is the base of the tongue. For that matter the oropharynx is the very back of the mouth, with the nasopharynx above it, and the pharynx below it (that one in the throat). Truth of the matter, it would have been nice had the writer actually talked to anyone in the know including Gillison who would have said this to them. They would have also gotten this from the articles which clearly state OSCC. Perhaps someone else could just send them a note... Dr. Mike perhaps, or you, on behalf of the OCF. I am leaving at 5 AM for another lecture engagement and by then this will be old news.

On another note can you believe the postings in relationship to this article? I have lost all faith in the intelligence of the American public.

Brian,
Forgiveness is easier than permission. I have already sent an e-mail to the author and publisher with anatomical descriptions from medline and detailed anatomical illustrations from Netter. I hope they recieve it.
I also hope you approve.
Respectfully,
Mike

Well I actually find the comments BETTER than what I encountered when the article was written about my cancer and the HPV connection a little over a year ago. Appx 1/3rd of the responders in effect said...I deserved my cancer !! Then when I testified before the Florida House on the Gardasil Vaccination Bill the comments coming from the Republicans were absurd even calling for total abstinence. I guess they hadn't thought that one through enough. What we need to is much more education about HPV and that's what I have been trying to do ever since I found out it tried to kill me.

Sorry that I was late to this story. I just read the article and reader comments and I am speechless, something that is a rarity for me.

I will refrain from contacting the paper and the writer as I see that everything is well taken care of by my colleague, Dr. Mike.

Thanks Mike.

Jerry