Just to clarify the link between HIV and HPV: those with HIV have an increased risk of contracting HPV related oral cancer (and penile, cervical, anal cancers). This is a consequence of an impaired immune function added to lifestyle choices.

I believe that because the chances of converting an HPV infection to an HPV cancer is so tiny, the chances of the partner ALSO converting an HPV infection to HPV cancer is even smaller. Remember that of all the millions of people who contract HPV at some point in their lives, less than 1% (I read 0.8% somewhere) fail to clear the virus naturally. It then takes years for it to develop into something nasty and may never do so. The odds of having two of you in the same relationship with the same unlucky set of circumstances would be astronomical indeed.

I also wonder if successful treatment would have erradicated the HPV infection as well as the cancer.

Without putting too finer point on it, Alex had HPV caused oropharyngeal cancer and it has not changed my attitude to the intimacies in life. However, after going through what we all have, it would be understandable if this did give some people pause for thought.

Vaccinate your kids/grandkids though and educate the nay sayers who think the handful of disability/deaths that may or may not have been caused by the HPV vaccine in any way equates to the thousands who die because no vaccine was available to them.