Wanda,

BY age 50 it is estimated that 80% of the female population has been exposed to HPV. As Charm says research has concluded that one is more likely to get cancer from HPV thru multiple partners but to me that's just simple probabilities.

HPV has been linked to OC especially in the Oropharynx region (BOT and Tonsils) for many years now. It has been estimated through studies that there is a 70% chance that if you have been Dx'ed with OC in that region and are a non smoker it will test positive for HPV.

Once acquired then it gets really complicated as to why a small percentage of us develop cancer but it is believed to be linked to our immune system. We also don't know why it can take decades for the acquired virus to go to the "dark side" or where it even hides until it causes us problems.

HPV is certainly not new to the OC scene. Believe me I have been preaching to the mountains since I was confirmed close to 4 years ago. Now most CCC's regularly test for HPV if the patient fits that profile but it is a shame that it still has not filtered down the food chain to all ENT's and even further down to PCP's.

Also even with a recent smoking history it is possible to have the OC caused by HPV and my experts are discounting their survival rate down from HPV non smoking but higher than HPV- smoking.

There is also a new patient that has been presenting themselves for a few years now and no one I have discussed this with has a clue and that is those that are younger than the typical HPV+ patient (< than say 50), non smoker, primary in the forward cavity, aggressive and HPV-. I have seen many here and Moffitt has as well. My RO, Dr Trotti just returned from a conference on HPV and he said this presentation was discussed for the first time to his knowledge.

Don't beat yourself up over the question of where or how the HPV was acquired because chances are 99% you will never know much less the "why" did it cause his OC. You should just be thankful that this bugger is easier to permanently kill than it's HPV- sidekick.