Chances are very slim that your cancer slides will test positive for HPV as it almost always targets the BOT or tonsils. Unfortunately you probably fall into a fairly new group of OC patients that we saw presenting themselves about 3 years ago and that would be people that were young, non smokers, casual drinkers and their cancers begin in the forward part of the tongue, as opposed to the BOT, but are HPV- and their cancers act as aggressively as tobacco related SCC.

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.