A Bradford cancer surgeon says he fears Hollywood star Michael Douglas’ claim his throat cancer was caused by oral sex could mean people think the disease is not caused by smoking and drinking. Professor James McCaul, head and neck cancer specialist at Bradford Royal Infirmary, was asked to give his professional opinion on comments made by the 68-year-old actor, who when asked if he regretted years of smoking and drinking told a journalist his cancer was caused by human papillomavirus (HPV).

Prof McCaul took part in a live blog on a national newspaper website. He said: “The main fear is that if people think it’s caused by racy bedroom antics, it must mean it’s nothing to do with alcohol and tobacco. But in the UK there are still more head and neck cases caused by tobacco usage and alcohol consumption or a combination of the two, than by HPV.”