EB is less linked with oral cancers than it is to esophageal cancers which is well documented. If you search this site for HPV, or search HPV 16/18 you will find lots of data, and links to places outside the site that have tons more of it if you inclined to read all the thousands of articles on HPV and cancer. Also, in the news section of the site we have many articles about the relationship between this virus and oral cancer specifically tonsillar which has been well demonstrated. The links between HPV and cancer are not theory as mentioned earlier in this thread. More than 95% of all cervical cancers are directly caused by this virus, (versions 16 and 18) and its link to those of us who are non-smoking oral cancer patients as well as the sexual transmission of this virus between partners is well established in studies at Johns Hopkins and elsewhere. Virus and cancer are linked in many ways, and much is understood about this relationship, and we are closer to a solution as we have finally developed a vaccine for viral caused cervical cancer that recent test show is 100% effective (Story in the News section). That is big news in the oral cancer community, as it will also reduce the number of non-tobacco related oral cancers as it begins to be implemented. As Gary mentioned there are many mechanisms by which a cell can become a cancer cell. All the methods he describes involve a common act; something causes a genetic change within the cell, most frequently the destruction initially of a gene that causes apoptosis (gene p-53). Viruses are very capable of a variety of genetic alterations once they are in cells to convert the cell to the virus's purposes. First and foremost is the turning off of the natural mechanism to cause normal preprogrammed cellular death. In the simplest statement, a cancer cell is one which is immortal. As everyone else here has echoed, how you came to this disease is less important than how you live with it.

You must now not only survive.... you must learn to thrive in the new reality that is your life with the physical and emotional effects of cancer.

Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.