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a1234 Offline OP
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https://www.healthtap.com/user_ques...vcan-oral-hpv-lay-dormant-in-oral-cavity
Is it possible?Or is Oral HPV only aquired by performing Oral Sex?
I suffer from Chronic Tonsillitis and my husband is the only one I ever gave unprotected ORAL sex couple of times I know for sure that my husband before me had 2 sexual partners(the second woman that he was intimate with was sexually abused)I didnt get the vaccine but given my age 23 is it still possible for me to get the vaccine even though I was sexually active?How likely am I to get Tonsil cancer?
I am amazed how many people dont know the about HPV and Oral cancer I should also note that I have been to an Ent and he doesnt take me seriously when I tell him about HPV and Tonsil cancer however I have been experiecing Tonsil discomfort for a quite some time(my tonils are chronically changed)with some ear pain.My pap smear didnt show any HPV changes but I am not very sure in that since HPV can lay dormant for 15 or 20 years.

Last edited by a1234; 01-07-2014 08:35 AM.
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At this time I am not aware of this has ever been scientifically proven to jump from female genital to throat in the same person. More is unknown about HPV than is known. There is still so much to learn! While HPV is a common virus with about 80% of the US population getting this, most successfully clear the virus. Only a very small percentage will go on to have any serious health issues. This can be prevented!!!! By vaccinating every child prior to them becoming sexually active this virus can be stopped. The Guradisil series of 3 shots are currently available for boys and girls ages 12-26. I urge all parents to get their children vaccinated young so they will never have to deal with this concern or worse HPV caused oral cancer.



Christine
SCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44
2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07
-65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr
Clear PET 1/08
4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I
surg 4/16/08 clr marg
215 HBO dives
3/09 teeth out, trismus
7/2/09 recur, Stg IV
8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy
3wks medicly inducd coma
2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit
PICC line IV antibx 8 mo
10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg
OC 3x in 3 years
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First off, I don't think I would put much if any faith in that internet article. It's just a one or two sentence answer to a very complex question. What kind of articles on the internet would I put faith in, like whole studies done and reported in the nations leading medical journals. Those I would have tendency to believe much more. One thing we caution a LOT about on this forum is to stay away from Dr Google. It usually just causes way more grief than it helps.

Like Christine said, so much is unknown about HPV16. While oral sex is the most likely transmission method, I think it is possible for it to be transmitted via deep kissing. How likely, probably not very likely, but impossible, I don't think any doctor who really knows oral cancer would say it's impossible. Have you ever deep kissed anyone other than your husband? I don't expect you to answer that, but it's something to think about.

As Christine also said like 80% are exposed to HPV at some time during their lives and most of them clear it normally via their immune systems. So, even if husband was exposed that doesn't mean he has it now. Even if he was he may have been one of the lucky majority that cleared it before he even met you.

Likewise, you don't know if you have it. Your chronic tonsil problems can be caused by lots of things not related to HPV16. If each case of tonsilitis clears (heals) and you go back to a period of no tonsilitis I would have a hard time blaming it on HPV16. The only way to diagnose HPV16 is by biopsy. For your piece of mind maybe consider asking your doctor to to do a biopsy, but don't be surprised if he says no, it's not warranted.

Maybe this will help you understand it better. I'm HPV16 positive myself and for a tonsil mass. I never had a history of tonsilitis but my left tonsil became swollen to triple it's normal size (almost all the way to the uvula). At first they treated it with heavy antibiotic (keflex and then augmentin). That did nothing to lessen the swelling. The doc mashed on it during examination and said it's hard (tonsilitis is usually normal texture). Additionally, tonsilitis is usually bilateral (both tonsils). He suggested biopsy or removal, I opted for removal. They did a biopsy on the removed tissue and identified SCC (squamous cell carcinoma), further pathology testing identified HPV16. Now, does any of that sound like what you've been through?

Personally, I think you are way over-worrying this issue. You don't know what you husband may or may not have been exposed too. That your husbands 2nd partner was sexually abused I think is making you conjure up all sorts of demons in her past and making you jump to conclusions that are just not warranted.

Though I am NOT a doctor and can't give actual medical advice (none of us can) I think you just have chronic tonsilitis of unknown cause. If it continues or has continued for a significant period of time (years) I'm surprised your doctor hasn't suggested normal tonsilectomy, though let me tell you, it's no picnic. It hurts like the dickens for an adult to have a tonsilectomy.

That your doctor seems to not be worried says one of two things, either you have nothing to be worried about, or 2. you need a second opinion.

Just a couple of things to think about.

Let us know how it all turns out.

Tony

Last edited by n74tg; 01-07-2014 05:53 PM.

Tony, 69, non-smoker, aerobatics pilot, bridge player/teacher, avid dancer (ballroom, latin, swing, country)

09/13 SCC, HPV 16, tonsillectomy, T2N0.
11/13 start rads, no chemo
12/13 taste gone, dry mouth,
02/14 hair slowly returning
05/14 taste the same, dry sinuses, irrigation helps.
01/15 food taste about 60% returned, dry sinuses are worse in winter.
12/20 no more sinus problems, taste pretty good

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I can relate to chronic tonsillitis. I had it so often as a child, they could never find a time to remove them (which was SOP in the 40's-50's). When I turned 55 they tried to kill me ;-) I have to be honest though, they were pretty much inert from my early teens on until I developed tonsil cancer. They were just developing the HPV test when I was Dx'd so I can't say for sure that my tonsil cancer was HPV induced. I believe it was, however, because of it's rapid response to treatment. Midway through radiation and chemo (week 3) they performed a CT scan and it had completely vanished. The techs were as astonished as I was. It was a 6cm tumor.

Like others have said the etiology of viruses is at the cutting edge of medicine right now. See:http://www.cdc.gov/std/HPV/stdFact-HPVandoralcancer.htm


Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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If you haven't gotten the vaccine get it now. Moffitt's top HPV researcher told me that even at my advanced age, ugh, if I were unmarried and still sexually active That I should get it. She says that as long as you have no active HPV infection the vaccine will protect against future infections. Problem is there is no relaible oral HPV test so knowing if one is HPV free is a guess but studies have shown a relatively quick body HPV infection "clearing" time so to me it would be a no brainer especially at your age.


David

Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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a1234 Offline OP
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Beside having HPV is it true that people who have asymmeterical tonils are at risk for developing Tonsil Cancer?

Last edited by a1234; 01-20-2014 11:03 AM.

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