Wow, so, there is no way to diagnose tonsillar cancer besides mets to the lymphs? That's pretty drastic, no?

I have read much on HPV, and from most studies, it is determined that half the population has some form of HPV, and a quarter has an oncogenic type. Based on studies done on university students, the percentage of HPV16 and 18 types that were found in new infections were 38%. Based on some inference, I would say that 25 million people have had some exposure to HPV 16.

I've read that one major risk factor for nasopharyngeal cancer is EBV virus. The CDC states that 80+% of people over 40 will have been exposed to EBV, and that it is lifelong. But, NPC is really rare in the U.S. In SouthEast Asia, though, it's very common. It's the number #1 cause of neoplasm in China. No one knows why, but some speculation is because of genetics. I've had a friend, who grew up in Taiwan, unfortunately recently passed away from NPC. She was 7 years with no recurrence, and then 3 years of fighting it again. It makes me wonder if HPV is similiar in this aspect to EBV.