With an alarming rise in the number of oral cancer cases among males in the city, doctors and scientists suspect that Human Papiloma Virus transmitted during unhygienic oral sex is the main culprit.
"Oral cancer is on the rise in Bengal. Although tobacco consumption is the main reason, there are high chances that unhygienic oral sex can lead to oral cancer due to the presence of HPV virus in human genitals," said Jaydip Biswas, Director, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI).
If the HPV passes from a genital organ to oral cavity, it leads to oral cancer, Biswas said, adding "it is one of the agents of oral cancer".
According to a survey carried out in 2008-09 by the CNCI, which will be published by the end of this year, the prevalence of oral cancer is among the top three most common cancers affecting Kolkatans.
The oral cancer did not find place among top five cancers prevalent among males in a survey conducted by the CNCI in 2006-07.
The survey report has billed the lung and prostate cancer as the top two cancers affecting the people of Kolkata.
The prevalence of lung, prostate and oral cancer is around 18 per cent with the last two taking up seven per cent each of the pie.
"The HPV is found in human genitals, both male and female. The virus is transmitted from one person to another only through sexually-transmitted infection. So when you get such virus in the mouth leading to oral cancer, it can be said that it had passed during oral sex," Biswas said.
"We also know that syphilis is one of the main reasons behind oral cancer or tongue cancer," said Biswas.
