Frank Lane, a 60-year-old father from Hampshire, UK, was stunned when doctors told him his throat cancer was linked to having oral sex. In late 2023, Frank first noticed a hard lump the size of a boiled egg on the right side of his neck while shaving. At first, he thought it was swollen glands from exercising, but when it didn’t go away after two weeks, he saw a doctor.
The physician found the lump pushing out from his tonsils and ordered a biopsy. Ten days later, Frank was diagnosed with throat cancer. What shocked him more was learning the cancer was caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), likely contracted through oral sex decades earlier.
Doctors estimated Frank caught the virus around age 20 during his 12 years in the army, a time when he was sexually active but not promiscuous. Frank recalled his disbelief when told the cause, even sharing how coworkers laughed until he encouraged them to research the link themselves.
He went through two rounds of chemotherapy followed by six weeks of painful radiotherapy, describing the latter as the worst experience of his life. Thankfully, his treatment was successful, and he’s now in remission with ongoing check-ups.
Frank now urges people to watch for unusual symptoms and get prompt medical advice. Jokingly, he advises avoiding oral sex but seriously stresses the importance of being aware and acting early.
