Hi Minh

Whilst I appreciate that HPV related tumour where yours was is rare, so is being your age and female. Maybe you are one of the rare ones (we already know you are one of the special ones).

For the common good an HPV test may be worthwhile as it may provide data that will give us a more accurate picture of the incidence and prevalence of HPV related cancers, who is at risk, and importantly, balance against how many HPV infections DONT progress to oral cancer. It may also put it on your doctor's radar for other patients. We pushed hard for my Alex to be tested which achieved the unexpected but welcome bonus for the half dozen patients in our "group" who were also tested when Alex came back positive in addition to a "complete response" to treatment.

I have just finished reading an absolutely appalling news report on another thread which reported that in Australia and New Zealand, we have less HPV related cancer than the rest of the world.... Well, duh, if we don't routinely test for it, our incidence is going to be a bit low isn't it? I really hate journalists who make such obviously foolish statements.

Karen