Pathology of the Throat and HPV

It has been well documented that the human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause cervical cancer. There is now evidence that HPV main play a role in throat cancer. Does the unsafe sexual behavior presently done mean that there may be an epidemic of oropharyngeal cancer in the future? The or pharynx consists of the middle part of throat behind the mouth including the back one-third of the tongue, the soft palate, the side and back walls of the throat, and the tonsils. Cancer in this area can be difficult to diagnose and treat.
Maybe it’s time to treat this like cervical cancer. Pap smears on women at high risk of developing cervical cancer using Pap smears and HPV testing have helped to drastically reduce the death rate from cervical cancer in the industrialized world. Earlier detection has led to early treatment and better outcomes.
Would performing Pap smears on specimens from the oropharyngeal area be an effective screening test for throat cancer? Or what about gargling with mouth wash, and then centrfiuging the washings down to look for suspicious cells?
Hopefully, someone is reading this blog and it will get them asking the same question. Screening for an illness is the first step to treating an illness.