Matthew, welcome to OCF. At this time treatment is the same weather your cancer is HPV+ or -. From what you wrote, the tumor was too small to get picked up on the scan. This can happen when the cancer is caught early, which is great for an optimal outcome.

You have a long road ahead filled with many appointments and tests. You will meet all kinds of doctors and hopefully go for a second opinion at a comprehensive cancer center (CCC). Best to get a hearing test, dental exam with flouride trays made, full blood workup with testosterone and thyroid levels prior to beginning any treatments. If you have any teeth that wouldnt make it thru radiation then its best to get them pulled before having rads (that is if you will have rads).

Eat everything you can now. If doing rads you sense of taste will change temporarily and eating probably will become difficult, so eat now. have all your favorites and done worry about gaining a few pounds, most lose weight with OC treatments.

As far as HPV goes, there is still much that is unknown about this disease. It is known to cause not only cancer of the oropharynx but also anal, cervical as well and genital warts. If between the ages of 12 and 26, the guardisil shot is available in a series of 3 shots. Getting children vaccinated prior to them reaching sexual maturity is their best bet at being protected against these diseases. Studies are being conducted to determine if the shot would help older, already exposed patients. Also a study is being done to see if lesser treatments can be given to HPV+ OC patients as they generally respond much better to certain OC treatments than non HPV patients. There is still so much to learn about HPV.

Read and educate yourself about not just HPV but also your OC so you can be your own advocate. Its important to understand what you are facing and make good choices.

Best wishes!