Believe,

Since too little is known about the how's and why's of HPV most lab docs believe that there is a co factor that may contribute to HPV infecting the cell and since alcohol is known to cause cellular damage it may well be a co factor in the HPV process.

It is also now thought that we may reacquire HPV multiple times throughout our life and it's not even known if the radiation kills all the HPV in our oral cavity during Tx. So if you combine the fact the he may reacquire (or never got rid of) HPV and alcohol may have contributed to his cancer in the first place then he may well be providing the same formula for disaster that originally was present.

As others have said if he's addicted he must be the one that says I HAVE A PROBLEM.

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.