Farrah Fawcett's Anal Cancer : May Be Cause Of human papilloma virus (HPV) Infection.

HPV is an extremely common virus. More than 50 percent of sexually active adults are thought to be infected with at least one strain of the virus, and up to 80 percent of sexually active women will have been exposed to the virus by the time they turn 50.

Research has recently shown that HPV makes proteins called E6 and E7 that can shut down two important tumor suppressor proteins in normal cells. These proteins -- p53 and Rb -- normally work to keep cells from growing out of control. When they are not active, cells can become cancerous.

Based on Report Farah Fawcetts fight against the illness may help give a face to a potentially stigmatizing condition that can be the result of infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection.

Estimates for the percentage of anal cancers as a result of infection with HPV ranges from 45 to 90 percent. Although the exact cause of anal cancer is not known, the American Cancer Society reports that most anal cancers seem to be linked to HPV infection.

HPV, and in particular HPV 16, seems to play a role in the development of a significant number of cancers of the mouth and throat. Oral sex increases your risk of acquiring an HPV infection in your mouth or throat. Since the vast majority of HPV associated throat cancers seem to be caused by HPV 16, it is possible that the HPV vaccine might be useful for prevention. Although study results are mixed, it seems possible that smoking and alcohol use may interact with HPV infection to increase a person's risk of cancer.