Welcome to OCF, Paul. Our site helps oral cancer patients and caregivers with info and support. Im not sure if you will find anyone here who is dealing with a similar situation as you.

OCF has helped bring about much of the research on what we know today about HPV. You have written about HPV and being a high risk strain. While HPV is much more common than most people realize, it usually is harmless being cleared by most healthy adults with no ill effects. Only a very small percentage have the strains of 16 or 18 which cause about 70% of HPV+ cancer. Even with being diagnosed with the "bad" strains, its still is very low odds it will develop into cancer. It can lay dormant for many years. Some people will clear it from their system. Others 10/20+ years later can have it develop into anal, penile, cervical, oral cancer or genital warts. Most HPV+ OC patients will not have symptoms until they are Stage IV which is why oral cancer screenings are so important. Unless this is a brand new development I have not heard of yet, the strain you mentioned is not high risk for HPV+ oral cancer. Along with the most dangerous strains of 16 and 18 are other bad strains of 6 and 11 which most commonly are found in HPV+ genital warts.

There is no officially approved HPV tests for men at this time. Women are able to be tested for HPV when doing their pap test but for men such tissue samples are not collected or tested. I am curious how your physician tested you and confirmed your HPV strain?

I suggest several things that should help you. First educate yourself about HPV thru reliable sources (NOT Dr Google!)(Ive included a HPV info link), seek counseling (possibly adding some anxiety meds) to help with your depression, have a long talk with a physician who is well educated with the latest on HPV.

Best wishes with everything!

Main OCF stie --- The HPV Connection


PS... For men or women 13- 26 years old, the Guardisil series of 2 shots (used to be 3) will protect against the cancer causing strains of HPV. This vaccine can help eliminate HPV+ cancer from ever occurring. Studies are being conducted to determine if the vaccine will help older adults or those already exposed to HPV.