The door is open now to educate, for activism, awareness before its shuts again. Maybe MD will write a book? Otherwise we may have to wait for the next celebrity, public figure, to open the door again.

Paul, your story is certainly one many would appreciate. Go tell it on a mountain, my friend.

Thanks Ed.

I think Brian should write the book.

Brian could write the book, and is most qualified to do so. I have my own story, and different path, but I probably won't share. What I post is only half the story, and a small part of my life. Actually, several people encouraged me to write a book, not on cancer, but my career working 25 years in 5 star hotels, and executive protection. I was going to call it, "Sex, Lies, and Murder."

[quote=travelottie] on a personal level it is uncomfortable.

[/quote]

That's where the difference lies. The two sides of the fence (much like PEG vs NO PEG) is a personal and emotional reaction on whether you're comfortable or not.

I don't have an issue discussing HPV, HSV, oral sex or what not. It's only fairly recent that this correlation was discovered. Twenty+ years ago we didn't know, and I will venture out on a limb and say many of us were probably wild and wooley back in the day. I know I was! ~lol~

As far as MD's interview? I do agree that it's a huge positive to bring this subject to the forefront, however, MD could have done a better job doing so. Personally I think the man is in denial. To dismiss the smoking and drinking and drug use (from what I've read, he was quite the wild man back in the day) was wrong. All that did was increase the odds of contracting H&N cancer along with HPV.

I smoked for 35 years (cigarettes/pipe/cigars) and I drank as well. Many times (ummm WAY too many times) to excess in those 35 years. It was during those years that I more than likely contracted HPV. So my lifestyle, all of it, not just sexual behavior, is responsible for my cancer.

Even if you are uncomfortable with the subject it's still a positive. The awareness this will bring as more people, celebrity or not, will come forward and discuss this subject in a more comprehensive manner and educate the public will hopefully help to prevent future cases of this disease we've all come to know so personally. Hopefully, as people start discussing this more, it will help remove the stigma of HPV. For this subject to be a "hush hush" kind of thing in this day and age is just silly. When you think that 90% of the population has had the virus and nearly all have been exposed at sometime in their lives.

"T"

If a book could be written by Brian, it needn't be a big book. . . . just a small booklet type of book just on HPV. I already have a vision of the title and cover which could have someone point an index finger at the reader and the words "HPV and You" and give all the possible ways a large percentage of the population could get it. I love the straight talk style in Brian's quote (which would look good on the back cover of the book):

[quote=Sturt1][quote=Brian Hill]Just remember that the CDC says that almost every American that is sexually active will have and HPV infection at some point in their lives. So it's a big club. Most people who get the infection since it has no obvious signs, will never know they had it and cleared it. It is the most common sexually transferred infection there is. Anyone that gives you crap should know that they too likely belong to the HPV club, their just got cleared by an immune system that recognized it, and they compose 99% of those ever infected. 1% end up with this bad luck of the gene pool draw.[/quote]

If this could be done I would buy several copies and donate them to the university library and colleges in the area and also doctors' offices. I'd be glad to volunteer my typing and/or proofreading services.

Great responses all. Thanks people, for sharing your thoughts. Each response gives me a new angle on the issue. It is good that MD can raise awareness because he is in the spotlight.