Episode 17 - HPV: Fear and misunderstanding

Do you remember when there was a media frenzy about oral sex and cancer after actor Michael Douglas said his oral cancer was caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV) that he contracted from cunnilingus? Is it true that oral sex causes cancer? I am joined today by Julia Kaufmann, a Mount Allison University Bell Scholar Intern who is working with me this summer. She dug up all the dirt on the Michael Douglas drama. After we get to the gossip, I will also get into the research to cover the info that you actually need to know about HPV, a virus that’s gotten a lot of attention over the past decade and a half, but is still widely misunderstood

HPV! What do we know? Do we know things? Let’s find out!

Find the script for this episode with notes and references at https://www.doweknowthings.com/episodes

Link to Pubmed (doesn't exactly work like google): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

Music and editing Jeremy Dahl www.palebluedot.ca

Script assistance by Matt Tunnacliffe

Thank you to Sheilanova Cornelio for sharing her story.

Thank to Julia Kaufmann for transcribing Sheila’s comments.