I have been watching the number of these cases that come to this site for well over a year. When I first came here almost 3 years ago it was tough to get HPV discussed as I was the only one that wanted to warn people that tobacco and alcohol weren't the only ways to get SCC. I was also told at 58 I was a youngster. HPV Primaries kept to the Oropharynx region so it was a safe bet if you came here at age 50+, BOT or Tonsil primary, nonsmoker you were HPV related. Then we started to see young people with a tobacco history show up and now we're seeing young to middle aged showing up HPV- and without a tobacco history but the cancer appears everywhere tobacco related SCC shows up and it appears just as aggressive as tobacco related SCC.

I'm certainly not anything close to an expert but something seems to be a new cause of oral SCC. I have discussed this with my RO at Moffitt and he to confirms that Moffitt had started seeing these types but he can't (or won't) advance a theory.

David

Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.