Man's Dormant HPV from Oral Sex Led to Throat Cancer After 30 Years
A British man's seemingly minor health complaint turned into a life-threatening diagnosis after doctors discovered a dormant sexually transmitted infection had been present in his body for three decades. Jeff Bradford, a personal trainer from Forres, initially attributed his persistent sore throat to dust from gym renovations at his workplace.
When symptoms failed to improve after several weeks in 2016, Bradford sought medical attention, beginning a journey that would reveal a shocking connection between his current health crisis and sexual activity from his distant past.
From Tonsillitis to Cancer Diagnosis
Medical professionals first treated Bradford's condition as tonsillitis, prescribing antibiotics that proved ineffective. As his symptoms persisted, he was referred to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary for more comprehensive testing.
"I had no fever... a different doctor gave me stronger antibiotics... he was a bit suspicious of it and took some photos," Bradford recalled of the medical investigation that ultimately led to his diagnosis.
By June 2016, after undergoing surgery, Bradford received the devastating news that he had stage three throat cancer. Just one week later, doctors delivered another shocking revelation: the cancer was directly linked to HPV16, a sexually transmitted infection typically contracted through oral sex.
The Dormant Infection Revelation
"HPV is caught through sexual transmission, it's normally from oral sex. I was totally shocked it was from that... it's probably been in your body for over 30 years," Bradford explained, expressing his astonishment at learning how long the virus had remained inactive in his system.
Now 62 years old, Bradford admitted he had no prior knowledge that HPV could lie dormant for decades before developing into cancer. "You just go about life... you don't expect when you're young 'do that and I might get cancer when I'm 50-odd,'" he said, highlighting the unexpected nature of his health crisis.
Painful Treatment and Recovery
Bradford underwent an intensive treatment regimen consisting of 35 sessions of radiotherapy, which he described as an extremely painful experience. "Radiotherapy caused really bad burns. It was like someone took a blowtorch to my neck," he recalled of the challenging treatment process.
Despite the physical ordeal, Bradford received encouraging news in August 2016 when doctors declared him cancer-free. His successful recovery marked the beginning of a new mission to educate others about similar health risks.
Raising Awareness About Silent Health Threats
Nearly a decade after his diagnosis, Bradford is now sharing his story publicly to raise awareness about HPV-related cancers and encourage people to take persistent symptoms seriously.
"I've got no qualms talking about that... it's a normal, sexual activity with somebody you love... but if it's not talked about, people may avoid treatment. It could be easily missed if you don't push it," he emphasized, stressing the importance of open conversation about sexual health matters.
Bradford's experience serves as a powerful reminder that some health threats can remain hidden for decades before manifesting as serious conditions, underscoring the importance of regular medical check-ups and proactive health management.
