Harvard Health Content API

Actor Michael Douglas startled many this week by appearing to say that his throat cancer was caused by oral sex. The Guardian, a British newspaper, published the interview with Douglas June 3. When asked about his cancer, he said, “without wanting to get too specific, this particular cancer is caused by HPV (human papillomavirus), which actually comes from cunnilingus.” Later, his spokesman said Douglas only meant that oral sex was one of the causes of his cancer. Douglas also has a history of smoking and heavy drinking. In the past, he has attributed his throat cancer to those causes. But HPV also can cause throat cancer. Those caused by smoking and alcohol have declined in the last 20 years. Those caused by HPV have increased. The virus is now the leading cause or oropharyngeal cancer.

Taking high doses of common pain relievers for a long time may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke up to one-third, a review of research finds. The study focused on nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and generics) and naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve and generics). Diclofenac, another NSAID, is popular in Europe. Rofecoxib (Vioxx) was taken off the market in 2004 because of an increased heart attack risk. Other coxibs, including celecoxib (Celebrex), are still sold. Experts still debate whether other NSAIDs carry the same risk as Vioxx. The new research review combined results of 639 studies. People in these studies were randomly assigned to take an NSAID or a placebo (fake pill). Taking high-dose diclofenac or a coxib increased the risk of heart attacks, strokes and related death by about one-third.

About 1.6 million U.S. children were homeless at some point in 2010. The American Academy of Pediatrics is urging doctors and the public to help improve life for these children. The journal Pediatrics published the new policy statement May 27. It notes that many people lost their homes in the recent recession. Homeless children tend to have more physical and mental health problems. The statement urges doctors to help these families apply for Medicaid. Doctors also can take other steps to improve health care for the homeless. Doctors and the public can press for public policy changes, too. One example is improved access to short-term and permanent housing. Other changes could help schools and the foster care system to support homeless children.