Michelle Ann,

No she was never tested as a result of my HPV finding but she had/has never had any positive pap smears. I was dx'ed 7 years ago and believe me compared to today that was the Dark Ages of HPV+ SCC. Despite the fact that I didn't present myself as a typical OC patient even Moffitt responded to my repeated questions of how did I get OC with "What difference does it make, you have the cancer and there's only one way to treat it so let's move forward." R U kidding me????? Of course it made a difference to me.... It was not until post Tx that I learned of a Dr at Johns Hopkins (Dr Maura Gillison)that was exploring a connection between HPV and oral cancer in people that fit a particular profile. I called her and spoke to her and she asked me to send my cancer slides to her. I did and her findings were positive for HPV16. Since then it has been my mission to inform everyone that will listen, especially men about HPV. Back then the ONLY information being put out about HPV targeted females and was about cervical cancer.

I took my story to the newspaper; to radio; to TV; Moffitt asked me to co teach an annual 1/2 day workshop on HPV+ SCC to oral cancer docs; I testified before the Florida House in support of a bill that would have required girls entering the 5th grade to get the Gardasil vaccination (didn't pass) and I testified before the CDC as a spokesperson for the OCF in support of giving the CDC's highest recommendation for the male version of the Gardasil vaccine. I even talked so much about HPV on this site after I found out my cancer tested positive for HPV that it created a lot of animosity and I almost left the site. Remember back then the ONLY OC cause discussed on this site was tobacco.

We've come a long way baby....