HPV Information

Hi John
Great Educational site Thanks

Thanks for Sharing
Thanks for sharing the article. It was thought at first that the tumour in my tongue was caused by HPV, since I don't drink or smoke. However, it came back negative for HPV. Even so, I really hope more research can help us find out more about this virus and its link to cancer, and hopefully more awareness can be made about oral cancer as well.

thanks
for the post! I need to read that stuff, I have no idea of my hpv status or its possible contribution to my condition.

Hal61 said:

Welcome Brian
Hi Brian, you probably already know, but just in case so you don't add to your concerns, HPV yea or nay, will have no bearing on your treatment regimen.

best, Hal

HPV
Back in March we asked the doctors about my HPV status, I was informed that it wouldn't make a difference. Like Hal61 said it makes no difference in the treatment.

nifty said:

A few stats from pharmacist husband...
Hi - Approx. 60% of the population with cancer has HPV. Mouth and neck cancer, anal and cervical cancer are the most common cancers in which people test positive for HPV. It is entirely possible to go your entire life with HPV and have no symptoms and/or not get cancer. It is a risk factor, but not a guaranteed cause by any stretch. A very large part of the population has HPV, and does not get cancer. From what I have read, if you do test positive for HPV the outcome of your treatment is more optimistic in many cases - however it does not alter the recommended treatment plan.

The real facts about HPV and oral cancer
After reading all of the above posts, I'm glad I came across this thread to help spread some correct information on HPV and real risks involved as well as the links to cervical and oral cancers. Before I begin all of this information is from reliable sources and is to date the current facts that we know about these viruses. That's right, virus(es). There are 120 current identified strains of HPV in which all are sub-typed. So with the statistic that 80% of all Americans will have some strain of HPV in their lifetime that pertains to all 120. However, there are only just a few known strains that we have found to be linked to certain cancers. The certain cancers are cervical, oral, anal, and penial. The specific strains-are not of any importance at this time. That is because even if (let's say) that you have strain "x" and that specific strain is linked to cause oral cancer- in no means does that guarantee that you will get oral cancer. In fact, the odds are against you. Only a small percentage of people that are exposed to the cancer causing strains of HPV will actually get cancer. It is possible, most likely in those whom have weak immune systems and a genetic pre-disposition (that you will never know) to not be able to rid that strain of HPV. So what's the real answer to this question? Well if you do get oral cancer it is beneficial to know if it is obtained from tobacco or hpv. Because, studies have shown that those with oral cancer from hpv have a higher success rate of survival. At the same time, it may just because they are typically younger in age and therefore more likely to complete treatment. Nonetheless, HPV is going to happen to the mass of us, some will get the cancer causing strains, and some will not, and some will get the cancer causing strains and never get cancer. Since we now know that HPV can be transferred even with passionate kissing then we can all pretty much assume that its possible that we could all be at risk, are we not? But have no fear- we are in no means at doom if we become proactive about our well beings and make sure that we are properly screened for these types of cancers on an annual basis. Women get pap smears, and both women and men should also ask their dentists for an oral cancer exam at each yearly teeth cleaning. We now live in a time and place that if cancer is caught early on, survival is at its highest point.

Skiffin16 said:

Spreading Correct Information....
While you have a lot to say on the subject and being this is your first post and I know nothing of you, or your background. You refer a lot to we as if you are with some organization...are you in treatment, a survivor, did I miss that in your posting somewhere....

If you have followed this forum or have read any of the past postings. You will see that everythibng that you refer to as "helping spread correct information" has already been iterated many times. So while what you say has merit, it definitely is not new to us within this forum.

Even the part where you refer to statistically having HPV might have the possibilty of responding favorably to treatment. When it still comes down to it, cancer is cancer...and HPV or not. At this time, the treatment is the same regardless.

Also, you state this as being the "real facts about HPV and oral cancer"....I don't necessarily agree that they are totally indeed real facts. I think this all is still relatively unstudied, but that there is more and more education, history and results that are now being looked at and considered....

I'm sorry to come across they way that I have, but it chaps me a little when someone posts things that start out stating these are the real facts, or this is the gold standard.

There are no certainties with this. If it were as simple as it seems to be stated, they would know for certain the cause, prevention, transmission, gestation, cure...etc. Simple put, they don't totally understand any of that currently.

There is no gold standard for treatment either. Depending on the locale or facilities that you are going. They have a protocul they favor because through trial error, and results over time, that's what has worked best for that facility or organization.

If it were the cure all, or absolute as for real facts. Every facility within the medical community would be following it. While several of us have/had similar disease and treatment protoculs. I can't really think of but a few if that which have had identicial treatments.... they are all different in some minute way, just as each of us are different.

Best,
John

Hear Hear!
I had the same response. I'm ready to be edified by anyone, new or not, but all that's been covered several times, recently.

Hal

diamondintheruff said:

The real facts about HPV and oral cancer
After reading all of the above posts, I'm glad I came across this thread to help spread some correct information on HPV and real risks involved as well as the links to cervical and oral cancers. Before I begin all of this information is from reliable sources and is to date the current facts that we know about these viruses. That's right, virus(es). There are 120 current identified strains of HPV in which all are sub-typed. So with the statistic that 80% of all Americans will have some strain of HPV in their lifetime that pertains to all 120. However, there are only just a few known strains that we have found to be linked to certain cancers. The certain cancers are cervical, oral, anal, and penial. The specific strains-are not of any importance at this time. That is because even if (let's say) that you have strain "x" and that specific strain is linked to cause oral cancer- in no means does that guarantee that you will get oral cancer. In fact, the odds are against you. Only a small percentage of people that are exposed to the cancer causing strains of HPV will actually get cancer. It is possible, most likely in those whom have weak immune systems and a genetic pre-disposition (that you will never know) to not be able to rid that strain of HPV. So what's the real answer to this question? Well if you do get oral cancer it is beneficial to know if it is obtained from tobacco or hpv. Because, studies have shown that those with oral cancer from hpv have a higher success rate of survival. At the same time, it may just because they are typically younger in age and therefore more likely to complete treatment. Nonetheless, HPV is going to happen to the mass of us, some will get the cancer causing strains, and some will not, and some will get the cancer causing strains and never get cancer. Since we now know that HPV can be transferred even with passionate kissing then we can all pretty much assume that its possible that we could all be at risk, are we not? But have no fear- we are in no means at doom if we become proactive about our well beings and make sure that we are properly screened for these types of cancers on an annual basis. Women get pap smears, and both women and men should also ask their dentists for an oral cancer exam at each yearly teeth cleaning. We now live in a time and place that if cancer is caught early on, survival is at its highest point.

For whatever reason the FDA
For whatever reason the FDA keeps choosing to not approve testing for men for HPV. Right now the only way that they test men are through a form of anal pap smears that can only be applied to men whom take part in anal sex with other men.

They are not screening blood for this virus by the way. Yet the FDA approved a DNAtest in 2009. And there are test out there for men but you have to go throughprivate bio labs and even them most still won't even talk to you about it let alnoe test you.

if you call 5.5 million Americans a small number than you think big. the fact that almost 14,000 women alone die from cervical cancer yearly and our oral cancer rates caused by HPV will out-number that of cervical cancer ones. and we don't even have an exact number of who has what for the sipmle reasons
1- we aren't doing bllod test for it
2 - it's not a reportable illness so those who have it don't have to inform thier partners they are at risk for infection
3 - ignorance.... most people don't even know what HPV is