Hello all,
Still shocked to learn that my 38 year old future BIL has Oral Cancer. Unsure what kind as of yet. Here are the facts that I do know. He is prone to cold sores. He is a workaholic that eats fast food 24/7. He had is Gall Bladder removed in November 2010. Also had an infection after the surgery that put him in the hospital for a week. So while he was in the hospital he realized he had a spot in the back of his mouth that he thought was from the ET during surgery. He let it go thinking it would heal up. He asked the surgeon at his follow up appointment about it and the Dr said he didn't know what it was and sent him to an ENT. The ENT did a biopsy and the result is Oral Cancer. He goes in for a CT (Head) one week from today. We have been doing research online and asked him about HPV. He said that an ex-girlfriend let him know a few months ago that she has HPV. She did not have it before dating him. Any helpful suggestions would be appreciated! Sorry if I'm rambling, just sorting this out in my head.

Hello and Welcome to OCF bransmom,
This is the best site for getting information and support for both yourself and BIL. There are people here with experience and knowledge on HPV so I am trying to put this back to the top of the active topic list to ensure you get some answers to your first post.
Best of luck with everything.
Gabriele

To Gabe, 1st post for 3x cancer patient. I just had a wrist flap also, would like some talk with you about it. Hope you get this as I am unfamiliar with all this message and reply stuff. ha.
Jeananne H.

Where was that spot that was Dx'ed with SCC?

Was he a tobacco user?

Just BC GF has HPV doesn't mean anything other than she has tested positive for the virus. By age 50 appx 80% of females have acquired the HPV which is easily transmitted numerous ways back n forth so the likelihood that he has already come in contact with it is very high. Also very likely is that his immune system has cleared the virus every time. Anyway his cancer cells can always be tested for the virus.

Hello All sorry for the slow response.

He has never used tobacco and a beer a month is too many for him. He however is addicted to Pepsi! The biopsy was done between the uvula and his Left Molar. I also forgot to add that he had 3 teeth that were removed just after his surgery (Gall Bladder). My mind begins to wonder if possibly his immune system was so overworked by the Gall Bladder and Post Op infection and infected teeth that he couldn't fight off the HPV. He really takes lousy care of himself. His drive to be the best at what he does is admirable but it comes at a high cost. When we went to see him in the hospital during his GB surgery his mouth and surrounding area was covered in blisters from the Herpes. Simply shocking, you would have thought he was in a burn unit. I will post more when I find out more. Thank you for all the input I sincerely appreciate it!

Since your BIL has a confirmed biopsy of OC from his ENT, he should now consider going to a reputable cancer center for a comprehensive 'WORKUP' from of team of experts specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of OC.

During his 'WORKUP' the HPV status of his OC will be established and it might effect his 'TREATMENT' and 'FOLLOW-UP', but it is only one of numerous critical factors.

A National Cancer Institute (NCI) Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) should be given top consideration.

University of Michigan has a NCI Designated CCC

http://cancercenters.cancer.gov/cancer_centers/umccc.html

From where you describe his "primary" I doubt HPV is related but again there is a test available. I do echo Don's recommendation that you get to a comprehensive cancer center ASAP. Many only get one shot at defeating this cancer and it only makes sense IMO to be treated by the best if at all possible.

I say ask them to test the tissue they removed for HPV. But like David said, it is more then likely not related to it. I smoked on and off for 7 years, maybe a total of 4, rarely drank, and had mine on my tongue tested for HPV and it came back negative. Docs say mine is caused genetically, and that is what they say about a lot of younger people.
Also, not to knock CCC but I have NEVER been to one and my doc is the best for this in the state and he is not at a CCC. Doesn't hurt to check them out, but let's just say to get great care, you don't always have to go to one. If you aren't comfortable with your current doctor's experience, knowledge or suggestions for treatment and what not, it doesn't hurt to get another opinion for a CCC.
Either way, hopefully they get this all figured out and him treated asap, so he can go on and live his life, and start taking better care of himself!

Well my BIL is back from Seattle. He went out to meet the team that will care for him and set up a treatment plan. While he was out there they called to give him the results to his Lymph Node biopsy. Positive for cancer. So now he has Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma and Lymphoma. The physicians here at William Beaumont Hospital want to do surgery to remove the lymph nodes. Seattle says they can radiate them at the same time they do the adenoid and then follow up with surgery if necessary. He has till Monday to make his decision. My thought is to have the same team work on him. Not here for surgery and there for radiation... Thoughts? Comments? Thanks!

He needs to get another opinion (preferably from a Comprehensive Cancer Center) especially about the removal of the nodes as his radiation usually will negate the need for surgery.