Just a quick question. My ENT is telling me that the rate of recurrence for HPV tonsil cancer (after two years) is practically nil. He said it's rare after one year, extremely rare after two. What has everyone else heard? True, false??? He even told me (I'll be two years X-mas 2010) that I shouldn't even bother with PET scans anymore. My Oncologist already has me scheduled for August but I would love to be done with those things.

Any info is appreciated.

Hello brickster

My ENT told me similar - unlikely after 2 years. I don't know whether my tonsil cancer was HPV for sure, but it is likely. I celebrated 7 years cancer free last month.

Best wishes for your continuing good health from Helen

Recurrance rates for HPV patients is much less than that of other causes. Sorry, I dont know exact figures as I dont pay attention to that type of info. Like any statistic, there are always exceptions. Ive lived thru OC 3x in 3 years which is probably against the all the odds.

For you coming up on the 2 year mark, congrats!!!!!

Brickster,
Here is a link to a recent study abstract dated June 7, 2010.

This study was completed in a joint effort with the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)and was recently presented by experts from MD Anderson CCC at the 44th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology

http://www.mdanderson.org/newsroom/...-patients-with-oropharyngeal-cancer.html

It states:
The three-year overall survival rate for patients with HPV-positive tumors was 82.4 percent compared to 57.1 percent with HPV-negative cancer. Progression-free survival rates were 73.7 percent and 43.4 percent, respectively.

Here is the study that was originally presented at ASCO in synopsis form. Please note that for the 5th time OCF was a financial sponsor of work into HPV and oral cancers since 2000 the last 3 times with the NCI as our partner. http://oralcancernews.org/wp/asco-second-study-links-HPV-to-mouth-cancer-outcomes/ Here is a second story related to these findings http://oralcancernews.org/wp/HPV-positive-tumors-increase-chance-of-survival/

An interesting side note is that I introduced Dr. Ang and Dr. Gillison. Both have been members of the OCF science advisory board for a decade. Dr. Ang was my treating RO at MDACC and I credit him for saving my life in 1998. It's funny how things work out in the end.

Ever since I was DX'ed with HPV I have been advocating that everyone who "fits the HPV profile" get tested. Many more doctors test for HPV than they did 4 years ago but still not enough. Point is that until the number crunchers get good complete reliable input their conclusions won't be as accurate as they could be. In the past when HPV+ patients were not tested they tainted the HPV- pool and they will continue to do so until the 2 pools are purified as much as possible. There are also sub issues like introducing prior tobacco use with a HPV+ patient so I know we will never get perfect pools but I will continue to push for HPV testing until the researchers tell me it won't make a difference. There is also, in my uneducated opinion, a sub pool within the HPV- pool and that is the recent influx of HPV- non tobacco users that should be tracked and studied.

Congrats and I like Christine don't pay much attention to the stats. Congrats on yours tho.

Thanks everyone. Glad to hear my info is consistent.