Hi --

Just an interesting little update -- Barry got a call from the HPV study nurse -- they had requested his tumor (right tonsil) from hospital where tonsillectomy was done and tested it for human papilloma virus -- it showed "strongly postive" for HPV-16. This is actually supposed to be a positive prognostic factor, an on-going study at Johns Hopkins is showing HPV-positive HNC patients show a better response and there is some evidence that these tumors are biologically different from ones in smokers. (Quite a bit on OCF web site on this, btw).

I am now going to get tested as well as it can be transmissable and of course, primary cause of cervical cancer. These HPV tests are being done fairly routinely now...

Gail

CG to husband Barry, dx. 7/21/05, age 66, SCC rgt. tonsil, BOT, 2 nodes (stg. IV), HPV+, tonsillectomy, 7x carboplatin, 35x tomoTherapy IMRT w/ Ethyol @ Johns Hopkins, thru treatment 9/28/05, HPV vaccine trial 12/06-present. Looking good!