I am being treated for tonsil cancer and my tumor was caused by the HPV virus and I think the word needs to get out that HPV not only causes cervical cancer but also tonsil cancer!!! I wish I had this info a year ago. I am female, 41, and healthy(non-smoker, occasional drinker) besides this diagnosis.
wow, girlcat, that's very disturbing. Which strain of HPV causes cancer of tonsils? Did you remove them? How are you dealing with it? What symptoms did you have?
Are you taking anything for strengthing the immune system?
I am not sure which strain caused my tumor. My tonsils were removed 3-1-2007. My Tumor was stage 2. The prognosis is 99% cure, with treatment. However the treatment is quite aggressive. I began radiation on both sides of my neck on 4-18; this will continue for 7 weeks, 5 days a week. I had a high dose of Chemo administered on 4-17, and will have 2 more doses before my treatment ends June 6. I had a feeding tube placed on 4-30, because the doctors anticipate I will not be able to swallow during the last few weeks. Despite this, I am doing well, and am out and about in Boston everyday(I have come to Dana Farber for treatment ),and I go home every weekend --about 1 hour away. My only symptom prior to my tonsillectomy was ONE enlarged tonsil and fatigue. My doctors will not allow supplements to strengthen the immune system because it could make the radiation less effective. Remember-sometimes what we take to help our healthy cells can also strengthen unhealthy, cancerous cells.
Doctors say there is no way to test men for high risk hpv. I wonder if they could do some sort of scraping or sample from someones throat. I don't see why not. Anyone hear of any new developments for testing men/woman?
It sounds logical for a men to have a test for HPV in their throat and work. I'm guessing since men show no signs and have no complictaions from having HPV in their bady that the test won't work. If they never have any signs or flare ups then there is nothing to run a test on.
Staar80----I had this for three years before finally undergoing tonsillectomy Mar.1. My only symptoms were one enlarged tonsil, and fatigue. I had my blood tested for all types of diseases, all negative. I had a CAT scan June 2006, which showed swelling but NOT the tumor. ( My Drs. at Dana Farber now tell me that a CAT scan will NOT always show a tumor, and I relied on that CAT scan, delaying my tonsillectomy!). I believe that my ENT was probably unaware of the HPV link, so never thuoght to test or ask! I had no fevers or rashes. My tonsil even looked normal, but just real big. They would feel it every so often and say it doesn't feel like a malignancy. There was a 2% chance this could be a malignancy, and I felt confident that it wasn't. Anyway, the prognosis is good and I have my last radiation treatment on June 6. That'll be a day to celebrate!
Staar I did just read some of your posts I forgot; I also got blood blister type things on my tonsil, and the back of my throat, sometimes during the three years before the tonsil was removed. Wonder if that was a symptom of the HPV in my throat?
when did they actually figure out it was cancerous? after the tonsillectomy?
they kept telling me there was no evidence of HIV or HPV, but my gyno in turn said it is hard to identify HPV sometimes. my glands under my chin have been swollen for 10 months now. and i am still suffering through HIV tests, when the CDC sayd 6 months is conclusive. i am going to switch ENT's i think because this guy (who i do feel seems to be good) is at the point where he says there is nothing he can do -after biopsy and tonsillectomy. it all seems to have settled down, but had never improved.
did your CBC's ever show anything off witht he cancer?
hi, iam worried too. Having about a month ,funny feeling in my throat-like a lump when swalloving.Tried 3 diffrent antibioticum-the last ones helped,but it came back. I was diagnosed with HPV 16,18-had a cervix operation. What if it moved into my tonsils now? Also today i have noticed, there is a small 5mm fleshy lump on one of my tonsils. please help. m.
They swab your throat and send it off to the lab to see if there is HPV in the throat. It's a simple test. They do it at my OBGYN's off and one other that I know of. I don't know if all doctors are aware that HPV can be found in the throat so I don't know who all offers the test.
The tumor was discovered during tonsillectomy, it was actually in the tonsil and starting to spread. All bloodwork I had done over the course of three years was all within normal ranges. Big symptom--fatigue. My throat rarely got sore, but I did feel something when I swallowed, but I thought it was just the swollen tonsil.
One year ago ( June 2006) I had a CAT scan which showed an enlarged tonsil, and my ENT reported No Evidence of Malignancy, diagnosis was a Cryptic Tonsil. I relied heavily on this report, and took my sweet time arranging surgery; finally having tonsillectomy March 2007. My oncologist informed me that a CAT scan will show enlargement, but NOT malignancies. I had no idea, and only wish I had known the limitations of the CAT scan. The scan that shows tumor activity is the PET scan, which I had 2 weeks after my tumor was removed.
Wow this concerns me quite a bit. I'm guessing you have the cancer causing strain of HPV? I have swollen tonsils but I still figure its from my mono. I do have HPV but the low risk kind. I have a question? Do you have any sort of genital hpv? Like high risk hpv or low risk? I don't think low risk hpv would cause cancer in the throat. i know that I don't have high risk. So maybe my swollen tonsils are caused by my mono? I also suffer from acid reflux and I'm 24. Always been scared of esophagual cancer and throat cancer. And I have never heard of a test to check for oral hpv. Does this test for the low risk or high risk kind?
I was unaware of testing positive for any HPV, if I was tested somehow over the past 22 years I did not receive the info. I saw my OBGYN a few days ago, he said we all have it. We think it is strain 16, not positive. If you know you have low-risk HPV, I wouldn't be concerned re:tonsils. Especially since BOTH are swollen; remember I had ONE swollen tonsil. But just be careful in the future re:STD. Anyone could be a carrier of any strain. They need to test for oral HPV!
Well, I am considering getting my tonsils removed. But I still think that was from my mono. Hpv is a very tricky desease. Men are just carriers and they would never know they had it. Unless if they get symptoms like warts. So I guess oral sex is just about as risky as anything else. I'm glad you found out and hope you have a speedy recovery. May god bless you and remember..hpv does not define you!
