BRIAN!!
I am floored....I'm sorry, but I've been so absorbed in my husband's personal fight with this cancer, and the occasional "nagging" fear that my HPV infection 25 years ago may have been a factor..........I didn't realize how much research had been done.
THANK YOU...............THANK YOU.......
This disease will owe it's demise to you!!!!!
Love,
Mandi

Mandi, It is not known at this date if the virus remains in someone for decades dormant, (and if so where) or people just get re-infected over and over again from repeated exposure to it because it is so ubiquitous in our world. I spent a great deal of time with Dr. Gillison on the phone today reviewing what we do NOT know, as OCF is funding a very preliminary look at some of this with her. Given all that we do not know for sure, you would be wrong to beat yourself up for something that there is no way of knowing if it is even possible.

Hi Brian,
It is my understanding that the vaccine is still in the testing stages for males and also for females over the age of 26. I know that in my office the vaccine is not yet offered to males at all- though I can tell you that when it is my boys will be getting it!
Of course, since the vaccine is considered relatively "new" to the public, we still meet with some resistance from parents who feel that we over-vaccinate our children. If I could only direct all of those people to this site.....
I did speak with our offfice rep from Merck who was familiar with the link to oral cancer, and she was hopeful that the vaccine would be available to males soon. Looking foward to all the new info you can give us.
Liz

Vaccination has saved millions of lives in the US alone.
Just to give you a idea of their impact:
Diseases that have been effected by vaccination radically, stated first - the number in the year which the maximum number of cases occurred and second, the number of cases in 2004-05, then the reduction (negative percent) between the two.

Diptheria, 207,000 - 0 - -100%
Hepatitis B, 200,500 - 17,358 - -74%
Hepatitis A, 35,200 - 4,500 - -79%
Measles, 900,000 - 66 - -99.9%
Pertussis, 265,000 - 25,000 - -87%
Polio, 21,300 - 1 - -100%
Rubella, 58,000 - 11 - -99.9%
Congenital Rubella, 20,000 - 1 - -100%
Tetanus, 1,700 - 34 - -94%
Hib (<5 years) 20,000 - 30 - -99.9%
Varicella, 83,500 - 11,250 - -87%
Pneumoccocal Disease, 64,000 - 37,775 - -41%

This is a pretty impressive record.

Karen,

I am also concerned about the possible connection between HPV 16 and oral cancers. When I underwent a hysterectomy 12 years ago there was some concern that the cervical dysplasia I'd experienced over the preceeding 6 years might be caused by HPV, but because no cancer was evident no follow-up to determine the cause was done. I have two daughters (22 and 18) and agree that I would(and will) do anything to prevent their having to experience the trials and tribulations of oral cancer.

Hang in there. Your husband is half-way through the "abuse" of radiation therapy. His road to recovery is a long one, but with a supportive spouse like you his travels will hopefully be easier.

Karon

PS - I was a "lurker" too!

The medical oncolgist I went to suggested testing for HPV. She was certain my tumor would test positive as I didn't have any other risk factors. I really didn't care because I knew it wouldn't affect the course of treatment. She just went through the lab that hospital used; she didn't have to send it to Johns Hopkins. At first it came back as a "high risk HPV" and it took a couple more days for them to "type" it. I ended up with HPV-33. I'm not sure if the virus originated with me or my husband, but I do know it would have been contracted more than 30 years ago (that's how long we have been in our relationship). I was surprised my primary care physician had that I was HPV positive in my records and never told me. I do get a pap every year, but I could have missed a year if I wasn't aware that I was at risk.

Simple Gifts - while it is not unheard of, this oncogenic version of HPV is not the usual suspect in tonsillar cancers. Would you consider sharing your medical history and biopsy results with a researcher ( data protected by laws) at anaother institution? If you will, please email me and I will put you in touch with them. My email is in the little rolodex card next to the top of the post.