Hi -

No, it was clearly less chance of dying from their cancer: "all patents with HPV-positive tumors had a 59% reduction of risk of death from cancer when compared with HPV-negative HNSCC patients." Gillison et al 2000. J. Nat. Cancer Inst. 92 (9). There have been other studies (several in Sweden) showing similar improved prognosis -- HPV-tumors appear to be different biologically. However there is still a lot to learn about the mechanism of how the virus induces cancer (is it similar to cervical cancer, for example), and could an HPV vaccine help in treatment?

Barry's in two HPV trials, which are double-blind so we will not know the outcome for his specific case, but one will follow viral load in his tissue and also, serum, as he goes through treatment. They take a lot of blood every two weeks!!

As to eating, it is a culinary challenge to make something Barry can taste and enjoy, tonight it was Maryland Cream of Crab soup -- packed with calories (all that cream) and he tasted it fine. I had read on the forum that seafood is often tasted while other things are cardboard. Anyway, when it gets to all taste like cardboard to him (we have no illusions that that won't happen eventually) not sure what we'll do...
(At least it doesn't seem to taste foul, like some people report.)

Signing off, another day another fine trip to Baltimore...oh well, gas is 40 cents cheaper there than here!

Gail