[quote=travelottie] on a personal level it is uncomfortable.

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That's where the difference lies. The two sides of the fence (much like PEG vs NO PEG) is a personal and emotional reaction on whether you're comfortable or not.

I don't have an issue discussing HPV, HSV, oral sex or what not. It's only fairly recent that this correlation was discovered. Twenty+ years ago we didn't know, and I will venture out on a limb and say many of us were probably wild and wooley back in the day. I know I was! ~lol~

As far as MD's interview? I do agree that it's a huge positive to bring this subject to the forefront, however, MD could have done a better job doing so. Personally I think the man is in denial. To dismiss the smoking and drinking and drug use (from what I've read, he was quite the wild man back in the day) was wrong. All that did was increase the odds of contracting H&N cancer along with HPV.

I smoked for 35 years (cigarettes/pipe/cigars) and I drank as well. Many times (ummm WAY too many times) to excess in those 35 years. It was during those years that I more than likely contracted HPV. So my lifestyle, all of it, not just sexual behavior, is responsible for my cancer.

Even if you are uncomfortable with the subject it's still a positive. The awareness this will bring as more people, celebrity or not, will come forward and discuss this subject in a more comprehensive manner and educate the public will hopefully help to prevent future cases of this disease we've all come to know so personally. Hopefully, as people start discussing this more, it will help remove the stigma of HPV. For this subject to be a "hush hush" kind of thing in this day and age is just silly. When you think that 90% of the population has had the virus and nearly all have been exposed at sometime in their lives.

"T"