There has been a large increase in throat cancer related to the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is a sexually transmitted virus.

It’s been seen in the U.S. and in Europe and experts believe it’s increasing in Canada as well.

Now, in a new study published in Current Oncology, a group of researchers from Lawson Health Research Institute and Western University have evidence confirming an epidemic here.

The study found that out of 160 patients with cancer of the tonsils and back of the throat, HPV was detected in 57 percent of cases, and men outnumbered women four to one.

“This is due to changes in sexual practices,” says Dr. Anthony Nichols, a London Health Sciences Centre cancer researcher.

“Over the last several decades, people tend to have more partners. Oral sex is more common and that’s what’s tightly linked, the number of oral sex partners.”

Treatment can consist of a combination of chemotherapy and radiation.

The survival rate of this cancer has increased, but patients can experience complications.

“There's a fraction of patients that will get major complications like hearing loss, kidney problems. They're going to be dependent on a feeding tube, sometimes indefinitely,” Nichols says.

The HPV vaccine could help, but vaccine rates in Canada are low.

"There's a huge potential  population that could be helped by wider implementation of the vaccine,” he says.

Even with increased awareness and vaccination, the problem is not likely to go away any time soon.  The virus can infect healthy cells and result in cancer years later.

The local study found the age of infection was in the teens, but the age of cancer diagnosis was 55.

Dr. Nichols says this will have a major impact on the health care system so strategies need to be found to prevent the disease.