A father of two was shocked to learn that a suspicious lump in his throat was cancer, which was believed to be linked to oral sex.
Frank Lane initially dismissed the doctors’ explanation, thinking they were “talking a load of rubbish” about the intimate cause of his illness.
However, after researching the connection between cunnilingus and mouth cancer, he began to consider that his past experiences in his early 20s might be the reason.
The HGV driver from Basingstoke, Hampshire, shared that his ordeal began two years ago when he discovered a lump in his neck, which he described as being “the size of a boiled egg.”
“I was having a shave and noticed my neck felt a bit hard,” Frank said. “At first, it was just a slight swelling. I was really tired, but I thought it was just the result of work and lack of sleep. I also found myself getting up to use the bathroom several times a night, which I attributed to aging.”
His partner suggested waiting a couple of weeks in case it was related to stress from gym workouts. But when the lump persisted, he made an appointment with his doctor.
Frank recalled how the doctor spotted the lump protruding from his tonsils, leading to a referral for a biopsy.
Ten days later, he received the devastating diagnosis of throat cancer. He claimed that doctors informed him the culprit was the human papillomavirus (HPV).
For those unfamiliar, HPV is a group of viruses that affect moist membranes in the body, including the cervix and throat, and it is often spread through sexual activities, including oral sex. While it’s known to lead to changes in cervical cells that can cause cervical cancer, it is believed to potentially affect throat cells, although more research is needed.
Typically, HPV does not produce symptoms, and many people are unaware they have it, as it can take years or even decades to develop into something serious.
According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer usually arises 15 to 20 years after initial HPV infection.
Frank, who served in the Royal Corps of Signals for 12 years, revealed that his biopsy results indicated he may have contracted the virus as much as 40 years ago when he was only 20 and sexually active.
“I was enjoying life, but I wasn’t being reckless,” he reflected on his younger days. “When I first heard I had throat cancer, I thought, for a second, that the doctor was mistaken since I’d quit smoking 10 years prior.”
Upon hearing that his cancer was a result of oral sex, he was taken aback: “I thought, ‘Wow, I’m never doing that again.’”
He noted that some colleagues laughed off his explanation when he shared it with them.
In January of the previous year, Frank underwent two rounds of chemotherapy at Henley Hospital in Oxfordshire. Unfortunately, the treatment didn’t shrink the tumor, prompting doctors to recommend an intense six-week course of radiotherapy, which he described as “the most painful thing” he’s ever endured.
Now, 16 months later, Frank is in the clear and returns for check-ups every two months to monitor his health.
He humorously advised others, “My suggestion would be to avoid oral sex. And if you can’t do that, don’t ignore unusual symptoms—get them checked out.”
