Hello everybody,

I am a very scared newbie 40 year old male. I have no health insurance due to a pre existing back condition. 14 years ago I got diagnosed with genital HPV. I went to a skin doctor and urologist who gave me medications to cure the problem. Both said everbody that has sex has HPV so its no big deal. I never thought about again till I had another outbreak 12 years later.

It happened after my partner died. He had squamous cell carcinoma of the neck and throat which I had no clue could involve HPV. We lived in a very rural part of Alabama. None of his doctors mentioned HPV as a cause or an alarm.

He was on a feeding tube for 7 years and I took care of him 24-7

I admit that I was very sexually active with about 50 partners and he was also before we met. He was 30 years older then me. I had always worried about Aids, herpes, etc... never thinking about HPV as I had never heard of it.

Now I am worried that I have oral HPV. I have an appointment with a dentist for an oral cancer screening next week. Several little suspicious small wart like nodules are in various places on my tongue and under it. None hurt and I am now terrified that I have squamous cell like he did. Some are so tiny and flat.

I guess that I should ask my dentist for an ENT referral to get my throat checked out. Is it expensive? With no health insurance I feel so defeated, embarrassed, and just degraded.

YOu mention HPV where I live most doctors hang up the phone or do not reply to your email.

Mentally this disease is just devastating. We have no support groups here. I am not out of the closet either. My life just feels like it is falling a part.

IF my partners squamous cell carcinoma was caused by HPV I guess my chances are very good that I have the same strain since we were together so many years.

Thanks for listening as this is one of the only places I do not feel nasty or diseased.

M

Welcome to OCF. Any sore you have had in your mouth for longer than 2 weeks should be checked by a professional. Some dentists will do a biopsy. I was sent to an oral surgeon but then my ENT's office has also done biopsies too.

Please read and learn about HPV. I do not understand why a dental professional would hang up if you mention HPV. I also do not understand why you would be discussing HPV when trying to schedule an appointment. It almost sounds to me like you are confusing HIV for HPV. There are several members including the founder of OCF, Brian Hill who are very knowledgeable about HPV. As far as I know, oral cancer is not something that is contagious like you are suggesting. HPV is contagious but not everyone who has HPV will develop SCC.

Doctors rates will vary greatly. Best thing to do is to call and make an appointment for a good oral cancer screening. Better yet, there are free oral cancer screenings going on with over 1000 dental professionals across the US this month. Check the list for something close to you.

http://www.oralcancer-screening.org/events/

Martin - So glad you found this site! There are lots of knowledgeable and compassionate people here that can help. It is really important to find out everything you can about HPV and you will find all the very latest information right here. Then, when you go for your oral cancer screening, you will be better prepared to ask the questions you need answered. Let us know what happens.

I doubt the screening will do much re a Dx of HPV but I would recommend you see an ENT for the nodules.

Hi Martin... okay... there are several things at work here. First off do book a visit to either a free screening clinic - if you find one, or to see an ENT - a family doctor, or even a doctor at a free clinic, can give you a referral. Oral surgeons are great but if you do have Oral cancer - an ENT is the person to see to begin with. So start off there. I imagine price wise they are close? Im sorry Im canadian so paying for a doctor is not something we do here. But ultimately a biopsy is a biopsy.

Do not say HPV to them. Go in tell the doctor your concern re the nodules and such. let them look, do their biopsy and decide. HPV doesn't have to come into play at all. If you are diagnosed with cancer (after the biopsy results) then you can find out if it is HPV related. They will likely test you. Regardless, cancer is cancer and it will be treated a specific way. As far as I gather (someone here can correct me if I am wrong) HPV related cancer is usually found in the Base of the tongue (not visible to you - it's basically down your throat) secondary lesions may move up into your oral cavity, but the primary is likely in your throat area, or in some cases not locatable ( occult ) I am not sure if tonisillary cancer is also HPV related, but if so then you might notice a tumor, or redness, or white patches there. However what I gather, issues on your gums and cheeks, and tongue and palate and floor of your mouth, aren't necessarily HPV related.

Not to say that you may not have cancer if it is in these areas, but rather that it may not be HPV related. Heavy drinking, and smoking are common causes, though I do neither and still ended up with it (and Im HPV neg). So bottom line... don't worry about your sexual history. Dont worry about HPV (it doesn't always become a cancer) worry about getting to an ENT guy and getting a biopsy.

I am sorry about your partner and his having had to go through this. He may have had HPV related cancer - but that doesn't mean you do.

I am surprised that any doctor would turn away a patient who may or may not have HPV - unless you are having sex with the doctor it shouldn't matter.

Anway... best of luck... I know not having insurance sucks... but do spend the money to get checked. It may save your life.

take care and fingers crossed you don't have it. PS - if you are curious if you have HPV any family doctor can write a requisition for the test...

Very good answer Cheryld. Even I understood it. Martin, The Drs at Ohio State Arthur G James CCC wrote their charges off But USU didn't. I just pay them a little each month. I make payments to 3 Hospitals right now. You can probably get them to write off the charges by filling out the proof of income forms. I make co-pays to the Drs and most of my treatments. Nothing ventured,, nothing gained. Go for it so you can relax and quit worrying so much. Remember it ain't until you are told it is.