Kissing overtakes smoking as leading risk for head and neck cancers: Top doctor warns of 'tsunami' of oral human papilloma virus cases

The Daily Mail reports:

Kissing has overtaken smoking and drinking as the leading risk factor for developing head and neck cancers.

The humble French kiss can pass on human papilloma virus (HPV), and Head of Maxillofacial and Head and neck Surgery at the Royal Darwin Hospital, Dr Mahiban Thomas, said the virus was responsible for 70% of head and neck cancer cases.

Dr Thomas told Daily Mail Australia if you became infected by HPV in the oropharynx, your risk of developing head and neck cancer was 250 times higher than that of someone without the virus.

Read the article and decide whether you agree with the gloomy outlook.