Hi Ian

The HPV virus in throat cancer (strains 16 and 18 as I understand it) is the same virus that causes cervical cancer in women. The vaccine was designed to eradicate this but with the increasing prevalence of throat cancer in younger people it should also now play a part in eliminating our cancers. It is transmitted by sexual activity and the vast majority of the population carries it for the simple reason you have pointed out. It only converts to cancer in a few who’s immune system does not fully deal with it. The initial thinking was to treat the girls and then the boys have no one to catch it from which is rather an old fashioned approach but termed the ‘herd’ mentality. Ideally therefore as a society we catch the youngsters before they become sexually active, although it can be transmitted at 2nd and third base too I believe!

as I understand it it does not have to be oral sex for transmission as it floats around in the blood stream. Yes I raised this earlier to which lemonice responded with some useful stuff. But there is a whole glut of adults out there who will unfortunately add to the statistics before this all comes into effect. And we thought not smoking or drinking excessively was ‘clean living’!

useful link for parents

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/.../Extending_HPV_Vaccination.pdf

www.nhs.uk/.../

www.jostrust.org.uk/.../who-can-have-the-hpv-vaccine

x

Hi Jane

thanks again for enlightenment and links.

This has puzzled me slighty as in very geralistic terms, I had always understood to be predominatly male and from ages 50+ at most risk and cases diagnosed..
I dont really research google as so much mis information

I would never have throught of the correlation nor would I thought preventaive measures at such an early age because generally an "older" male over 50 would yield the highest cases. So on basis that it can be quite an agressive cancer does this mean it lies dormant for years then once acitaved mode for want of a better expression, it then grows really fast.
Why would we not see more prevelance of cases in the younger generation given the correlation with sex?

sorry for all the q's...just really interesting

ian

Hi ian I’ve looked into this will send u private message butbthe h or can live dormant in yiu upmtom40 years most people get rid of it inside 2 

h xx

Welcome Dian, sorry to hear you and your husband are going through this, but this group is really helpful and nice to talk to, they have helped me a lot.My husband finished his treatment today-7 weeks of radiotherapy and 3 chemos. Everyone on here will have experienced what you will experience and be able to give you pointers to help. Glad he's doing ok and hope he continues to do so, hope you're ok too? Look after yourself too, it's hard for you too. have a nice weekend Joy x

Hi Dian and welcome to our small but friendly group of those going through the treatment and their loved ones. Its goid to hear that you have completed week 1 and are doing well so far. My hubby was diagnosed in Dec 2015 with SCC tonsils with lymph node tumours and had 5 cycles of chemotherapy and 30 fractions of radiotherapy. He then went on to have a neck dissection and has been in remission and cancer free since July 2016.

Just to say the treatment is tough for both of you and you will need to be strong when he cant be - but there is light at the end of the tunnel and we’re here to offer any support we can. 

Keep in touch and ask any questions someine will pop by to try to help.

best wishes

Emma

xxxc

Hi Jane, I know my cancer is different to most on this thread but I wondered if someone can advise me of how they managed to take pain meds while having a feed tube.  I was diagnosed with T3 of the Epiglottis last Tuesday and am booked for surgery next Thursday so I have not really had time to get my head around it, but this is a question i forgot to ask.  Any help much appreciated.

Mo

Ian I was told that as we get older our bodies don’t work as well and as we make new cells the hpv causes some cells to divide and mutate, a lot of cancers come later in life so that in itself isn’t unusual.

80% of the population carry hpv but in most cases that isn’t a problem and there are no symptoms, 

Dave

Hi mo I had a nasal feeding tube fir 45 days hubby used to put meds in via a syringe there’s a seietste valve where he used to put extra water or tea in as well if u are having a peg in tummy think they do the same. Another way is s pict line in top of arm or shoulder which again pumps meds in hope this helps 

blog www.radioactiveraz.wordpres.com details my experience with tonsil csncer n affected lymph nodes 

hazel 

Hi, i would like to say i found your post interesting too. One thing we do have in common is the opiod patch. I was given one as a pre -emptive. It was  fentanyl( i live in Spain). Pain was expected, but either it never came or the patch kicked in before it could. I was given a warning of how to come off it gently, and i did this early, was not keeen on being on it too long. 

Now, you probabaly know this , but IF this is any use to you........my worst part, despite surgery and 33 radiotherapy fractions will all its lovely side effects, was the fentanyl withdarwal. Absolutely. I was prepared, i tapered off, but had at least 5 sleepless nights of leg twitching and more. Thought i was going nuts, so just a heads up if they can help you when the time comes take any advice you can get there. Good luck, great posting as i said.  G.