Kenneth Mayer, MD, Medical Research Director and Co-Chair fenway institute A Boston research team suggests four actions to reduce cancer risk for gay and bisexual men.
- Quit smoking (this is good advice for everyone)
- Drink less (this is also good advice for everyone)
- Get vaccinated against HPV and viral hepatitis
- Get an HIV test (also good advice for everyone)
HPV vaccination
The HPV vaccine has been used for more than 15 years and is currently approved for boys and men ages 9 to 45. The idea behind the age limit is that most men have acquired the majority of sexual partners by middle age and are therefore already infected. Affects many HPV strains. But Mayer says it’s still worth getting vaccinated later.
“Even if we could reduce the risk of cancer by 5 percent, [getting vaccinated is] It’s worth it,” he says. “There is no downside to getting vaccinated as long as you can get it at your own expense.”
Most insurance companies will not cover the cost of HPV vaccination if you are over 45, so getting all three doses can be a serious financial burden. Also, the jury is still out on how effective the HPV vaccine is in preventing oropharyngeal cancer.
Hepatitis B vaccination
People who are chronically infected with hepatitis B have an increased risk of developing liver cancer during their lifetime. According to the CDC, gay and bi men and men who have sex are at higher risk for hepatitis B, which can be transmitted through semen or blood during sex. Hepatitis A is usually transmitted through the mouth through feces, which also poses a risk to the liver. The CDC recommends that all men who have sex with men get vaccinated against hepatitis A and hepatitis B.
HIV test
HIV is a strong predictor of increased risk of anal cancer. One reason is that sex without a condom facilitates her transmission of HIV, as well as HPV and hepatitis B. A positive HIV test result should alert your doctor to order other screening tests. Your doctor may not automatically prescribe these tests, so it may be up to you to order them. To do this, you need to feel comfortable talking about your sexual activities.