Good. Standing up for yourself is a fantastic way to look at this.

To answer your question: no, I had no symptoms of HPV and would never have known it was residing in my body waiting to strike. I should add that most of the time (80%? 90%... not sure of the figures) the body flushes it out, if that's the term I want. I believe there's a comprehensive article on the subject that you can find through the main page of this site.

I started the big trip with a lump under the left side of my chin that turned out to be a malignant lymph node. That was my only symptom.

We're standing by to hear more about your progress as you do.

David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 15 years all clear in 6/24 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18