Hi Brian: I am interested in your posts and your knowledge of HPV. My doctors all said that I would have the virus in me forever, which makes me of course worried about recurrence. I was told that millions have the virus, but that it is rare to get cancer from it, that the virus weakens our body's ability to supress a tumor, and that it is spread through oral-genital contact, at least when it manifests as oral cancer. (I always wondered if there is any pattern emerging that would tell us how long the virus is in us before the tumor emerges.) Does the information I have been given jive with what you know? -Michelle ...PS Thank you for this amazing forum. I don't know what I would have done - what I would do - without it.

I must concur about stress and HPV. The two years prior to my diagnosis last December were the most stressful of my life. Until now, I had not heard a lot of people discussing stress and HPV+ cancers. Since getting better after treatment, I am doing tai chi, yoga, cardio work, talk therapy, meditation, and I eliminated most caffeine and alcohol from my diet. Now, if I could just stop being stressed out when I have oral sex... joke joke joke... I just had to join in the fun that those naughty boys were having a few posts ago. -Michelle

I am letting your words sink in. Much wisdom in them. Thank you. -Michelle