I think we may wish to add a new discussion group that focuses in on potential HPV cancer sites other then the cervix. We read about anal, penile, vulvar, vaginal, maybe some skin and some throat cancers that may have a HPV component in some instances.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is now recognized to play a role in the pathogenesis of a subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), particularly those that arise from the lingual and palatine tonsils within the oropharynx. High-risk HPV16 is identified in the overwhelming majority of HPV-positive tumors, which have molecular-genetic alterations indicative of viral oncogene function. Measures of HPV exposure, including sexual behaviors, seropositivity to HPV16, and oral, high-risk HPV infection, are associated with increased risk for oropharyngeal cancer. HPV infection may be altering the demographics of HNSCC patients, as these patients tend to be younger, nonsmokers, and nondrinkers.
What experiences do you have with HPV in these other cancer sites?
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HPV cancer sites other then the cervix
Explore topics in this discussion:
Cancer Surgery Hysterectomy Pain Anal cancer HPV Cervical cancer
12 replies
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- By flowershoplady
- Posted May 3, 2007 at 11:06 pm
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i don't have experience with hpv in non-gynecological sites, but read with interest the article on the nccc website about pap smears being used for gay men to detect signs of anal cancer. the nccc website has so much great info, keeping us all informed about the latest health news.
- By ariel1
- Posted May 23, 2007 at 8:35 am
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my whole story is too long to write at this time, but after being diagnosed with cervical cancer, how i found out is wierd enough, having annual paps every year due to my knowlege of my hpv,in 2004 i had my first abnormal pap. high grade pre cancer. after one cone biopsy 3 month later pap was still high grade. dr wanted to do another cone biopsy. i declined and stated i wanted a total hysterectomy being 54yrs old. he did it but unfortunately not radical as i had wanted. no lymph node disection etc. and laproscopically. in the back of my cervex, apparently unnoticeable with paps since they take cells from the front of cervix, they found invasive cancer.
typical radiation and cisplatin regime i was good to go. although i din't finish all 5 chemo because i had an allergic reaction to cisplatin. okay cancers not so bad i thought . then 1 year later i get a lump on the left side of my waist. biopsy was benign but decided to remove it anyway. all drs agreed it couldn't be cervical cancer in such a strange spot. well it was, had to have another surgery at spot because margins were not clear. no one could figure out how it got there. a couple months later after i insisted on pet scan, hmmmm another tumor, removed that, drs very curious now why i'm getting tumors there. decision seems that since my stupid gyno who originally did my non-radical hysterectomy , did it laproscopically through this site near my waist. i have a great(i hope )gyno onc. the tumour board suggested chemo radiation
but i found another gyno onc that wanted to remove all of the area the size of a flank steak on my left side site. he also went into the abdominal wall to see if cancer was there. all paths we clean.
so i was happy till my next 3 month pet, pet shows uptake in two spots, my old gyno onc who i went back to says wait 3 months for new pet maybe its scar tissure,next pet shows no size change but there is depth change and now suggests chemo, which of course i'm allergic to but he says they can de sensitize me to cisplatin. my husband and i are to meet today with my gyno onc and a med onc to discuss my strategy. i guess i did tell most of my story but the point is i am trying to find out if when you have high grade pre cancerous cells and chose to have a hysterctomy to stop all chances of cancer is it normal procedure to laproscopically do it ???
had my gyn not done it that way then no cancer cells would have been left to grow in the site he remove it from. so talk about strange places for cervical cancer.if it is normal it should be investigated and banned. all my recurring cancer is from that site and its shame i could die from something so obvious to me THAT IF THE PATIENT OR DR EVEN SUSPECT A POSSIBILITY OF CANCER .......NEVER DO LAPROSCOPIC SURGERY AND CONTAMINATE A CLEAN SPOT ON ONES BODY. does anyone have info of alternative or newly called complementary health care for this situation. i'll try any thing at this frighnting junction in life.
i've never written in before but after looking at the length of this "note" i guess i should have. thank you for any thoughts on this matter. ariel
- By Saad
- Posted May 24, 2007 at 11:36 am
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I practice as a Pathologist in Nigeria. Actually patients with oro-pharyngeal and anal cancers are becoming commoner in our practice. Some of these tumours actually show some inclusion bodies suggestive of viral infection, however our limitation in Nigeria is lack of Immunohistochemical studies which can actually diagnose a specific HPV subtypes. Another limitation is that it is usually extremely difficult to extract sexual history from our patients particularly when it involves questions about oral or anal sex. Presently I am working on histological review of oro-pharyngeal tumors retrospectively. I think pretty well that HPV is modifying Head & Neck SCCs.
- By flowershoplady
- Posted May 24, 2007 at 6:59 pm
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saad, do you know how the initial problem for the patients with oro-pharyngeal cancers present themselves? is it something visible to the eye? or something that can be felt? or.....? thanks in advance for the info; i want to learn more.
- By Saad
- Posted May 27, 2007 at 8:27 am
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Flowershoplady, the symptoms of this condition actually vary but can include red or white patch in the mouth, pain, difficulty in swallowing, speech problems and bad breath (Halitosis) among others. Sometimes can be silent and only be detected when a cervical lymph node is involved and is biopsied.
- By Shawna1974
- Posted June 1, 2007 at 11:54 am
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I am glad to see this posted.
An person I know who had tonsil cancer and went through an ordeal at a very reputable hospital that stated his cancer may be linked to HPV. The media needs to hear this as it is just one more way to push toward vaccination. They did not confirm this to them but it was mentioned.
I am walk up to complete strangers to tell them about the vaccine. I can't believe how many people have not heard of HPV or the vaccine's benefits (or that the vaccine is an option).
It will be interesting to see what other cancers are linked to HPV.
- By islandgirl
- Posted June 1, 2007 at 2:24 pm
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There's definitely lots of study to support the theory that most head and neck in addition to the anal, cervical, vulva, etc cancers being HPV related.
So far cervical cancer is the one most studied in conjunction with HPV. My mother has been fighting cancer of the tongue and floor of the mouth for over 10 years. She is a non smoker and non drinker. Her oncologist believes her cancer was HPV related and has even hinted that the HPV vaccine could be used as treatment in the future if the studies support that. The HPV vaccine could eliminate most head and neck in addition to the cervical, anal, etc cancers in the future. It's exciting to learn this but not easy waiting for the research to catch up to reality so that we save more lives sooner.
I'm just happy that my daughter had received the vaccine.
- By Amaryllis2
- Posted June 6, 2009 at 9:35 pm
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I have had exactly the same experience - cervical cancer tumors at laparoscopic incision sites after radical hysterectomy (incl. ovaries, fallopian tubes). I was never warned that laparoscopic surgery posed this danger, and they did know I had cancer before they did the surgery. I also had radiation (internal and external), and now, with the new tumors, am doing chemo. Your post was some time ago - did you have more tumors, are you ok now?
- By ariel1
- Posted June 7, 2009 at 9:46 am
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ryllis, yes that was a post from 2 years ago. and no i didn't have anymore tumors since i had decided to surgically remove the area where they were all growing. the area by the incision where the dr laproscopically removed my cancerous parts, and contaminated that area, which was, at the time, clean and healthy. I had 3 tumors removed. my onc/dr, also suggested radiation and chemo in instead of surgery. but i had a surgeon friend that kept saying why not just get rid of all that tissue that tumors keep growing in. so thats the route i personally chose,against my onc/dr recommondation. but i do have faith in my dr and even though i went to a different onc/dr for the surgery, i went right back to my original dr after. maybe chemo radiation would have worked too. it was just a choice i made. if you have any questions i'd be happy to answer.
i really don't know how laproscopic surgery for cc is done without contaminating all areas it passes by during removal. but apparently its done all the time with no consequenses. all oncologists found my case amazing and so rare that they wrote it up in JAMA , journal of american medical association. i'm famous. ha. frankly i'd rather be on the cover of rolling stone.
lol.
- By together-we-stand
- Posted June 7, 2009 at 11:15 am
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everytime i return to this site i am amazed at both the info i find and the uplifting spirits of the members.
ariel1 it's great to hear that you're doin better.
ryllis i hope your chemo goes well, and you get pass this with flying clouors.
can anyone tell me if the discussion suggested above was ever added, if so i'd love to read it and see what other info is out there.
- By together-we-stand
- Posted June 7, 2009 at 11:15 am
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ryllis i hope your chemo goes well, and you get pass this with flying colours*
- By Amaryllis2
- Posted June 7, 2009 at 8:29 pm
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Ariel - I am so glad to hear that you are fine. I was worried because this was the only post from you that I found.
Can you e-mail me the info about the JAMA article - when, what issue? I would like to read it and have my drs also see it. I have aggressive tumors at two of the incisions, plus one adjacent to the original one on the cervix, so I doubt surgery is much of an option. Maybe the chemo will work and shrink them all.
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