Study highlights sex cancers among post-war generations

People born in the decades following the Second World War have shown an increase in sexually-transmitted cancers, new research suggests.

According to a report published in the British Journal of Cancer, 'baby boomers' could be at increased risk from cancers caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) due to changes in sexual behaviour which began in the 1960s.

The report examines the incidence of types of cancers linked to HPV, such as cervical, anal, penile and vaginal, in relation to those born in the 1950s and 1960s.

Kings College London's David Robinson, who led the study, said: "These results have revealed a snapshot of just how much rates of these cancers have increased in the post war generations. For anal cancer, rates are now higher in women than in men.

"However, programmes of vaccination against HPV, whilst aimed primarily at reducing the burden of cervical cancer, may also help to reduce the incidence of cancers at these other sites."

Some medical experts estimate that as many as around 75 per cent of people may become infected with HPV and, while many have immune systems strong enough to destroy it, repeated infections could lead to the development of cancer.

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