First off let me point out that I was Dx'ed over 2 1/2 years ago and they told me that I had "what they called the Old Foggies (sp) Cancer" and they went on to tell me it was called that because typically the people that get are old and have been sitting in bars and smoking and drinking all their lives. Their description, not mine and I believe this came from the nurses in the room and not my RO or MO. I said back to them that I hadn't smoked for over 35 years and I was a casual drinker. They responded, "what difference does it make, you still have the cancer." I mention 2 1/2 years ago because
HPV's connection to H & N cancers was not to well known even at all the CCC's so I continued my own quest to find out what was trying to kill me and I was pulled to this site and it was here that
HPV was first mentioned by a CG to her husband being treated at John's Hopkins and he was a non smoker, casual drinker, similar age and he had tested positive for
HPV. What's that? I posted and I eventually made Moffitt send my slides up there to be tested and they confirmed
HPV. Since then I have told everyone that posted non smoking that they need to be tested for
HPV. I had to do this a lot more then than I have to now as
HPV awareness is spreading.