Oral HPV cancer following anal cancer treatment

Ginkgo
Ginkgo Member Posts: 13 Member
in Anal Cancer #1

I finished the usual chemoradio regime for Stage I anal cancer mid-April.  Exams by radiologist and surgeon so far are good.  But I showed a spot on my gum to my dentist and he's referred me to an oral surgeon for a biopsy of what the dentist described as a lesion.  My oncologist says it sounds suspicious because HPV can cause a variety or oral cancers.  The treatment for HPV oral cancer after surgery is chemoradiation, and the chemo is systemic 5FU.  I just finished two rounds of systemic 5FU in April.  Wouldn't that have gotten any other HPV cancer in my body?  I cannot believe that I went through the anal treatment only to have oral cancer now.  Of course, it could be nothing, but I am expecting the worst.  I just don't understand why this is happening.  Has anyone had oral cancer from HPV following their anal cancer treatment?  I smoked for two years 45 years ago, which still could be a factor in oral cancer, but this is just too cooincidental with the HPV anal cancer.  Very depressing!

 

Comments

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #2
    Ginkgo

    So glad that you got good results on your recent exams, but sorry to hear you have another worry.  I hope the biopsy on the lesion on your gum turns out to be nothing of concern.  As for whether or not your previous rounds of chemo would have had any effect on the gum lesion, that would be a good question to ask your oncologist.  May you get an answer as to what this is and may it be nothing serious!

  • ACinNC
    ACinNC Member Posts: 46
    #3
    Oral hpv

    I'm hoping this lesion turns out benign.  I'm sure your dentist is being extra cautious with your recent anal cancer diagnosis. Oral surgeons are used to seeing all kinds of lesions and once you see him or her perhaps you will get a better understanding on whether the lesion is suggestive of an HPV lesion while awaiting the biopsy results. I've known a couple of men who developed oral cancer from HPV and their lesions were in the throat area and not on the gum. I don't think the chemo alone would have knocked out an early oral cancer without the addition of radiation if it were HPV cancer.

  • Ohmy
    Ohmy Member Posts: 102 Member
    #4
    It is my understanding the

    It is my understanding the chemo is used to kill any cancer cells in circulation.  Your stage I anal cancer was an early stage.  Wait until the oral surgeon tells you what he thinks it is when he sees it and does the biopsy.

  • Ginkgo
    Ginkgo Member Posts: 13 Member
    edited July 2018 #5
    Outcome

    On Sunday I bit into something and the "lesion" popped like a blister.  The oral surgeon said it could be related to platelet problems remaining from the chemo.  At any rate, he could find nothing unusual anywhere in my mouth.  A big mystery, but great relief!  

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #6
    Ginkgo

    That's great news--I hope you are feeling a lot of relief!

  • Ouch_Ouch_Ouch
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch Member Posts: 508 Member
    #7
    Ginkgo said:

    Outcome

    On Sunday I bit into something and the "lesion" popped like a blister.  The oral surgeon said it could be related to platelet problems remaining from the chemo.  At any rate, he could find nothing unusual anywhere in my mouth.  A big mystery, but great relief!  

    Hooray!

    I've read that it's really the radiation that kills the cancer. The chemotherapy weakens the cells, making them more suseptible to the radiation. Anyway, they work together.

  • mp327
    mp327 Member Posts: 4,440 Member
    #8
    Ouch_Ouch_Ouch said:

    Hooray!

    I've read that it's really the radiation that kills the cancer. The chemotherapy weakens the cells, making them more suseptible to the radiation. Anyway, they work together.

    Ouch

    Yes, I believe you are correct.

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