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HPV query

VicKat1
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Hi folks,

I’ve recently been diagnosed with CC stage 1B2 of the cervical canal. Now, I’m a little bit confused over this HPV malarkey and was hoping someone might be able to help?! 

At no point throughout my diagnosis and meetings with consultants etc have I been told that I’m carrying the HPV virus. I know that 99% of CC cases are caused by HPV so I was wondering if it was possible to have had HPV and for it to have cleared your system whilst still having done the damage to your cervical cells??

I know it’s a strange question but one that’s been bugging me

Also, I have two daughters aged 15 and 19. I’m very concerned that they’ll judge me for having CC due to how it comes about. I’ve been married to their dad for 20 years and I know I’ve been faithful for 20 years and to the best of my knowledge so has he but I’m concerned they’ll think either one of us has been unfaithful. I, myself don’t really understand how all this has come about after 20 years of being with one partner (in spite of all the google searches!!) so I was wondering if anyone had any advice about how to tell them and explain the whole situation to them??

As always, this site is awesome and I thank you all for the help and advice I’ve read/received over the last few weeks. Stay strong.xx

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    Hi VicKat

    There is a very small percentage of this cancer not caused by hpv, but if you had one of these cancer variants you would know about it as it would be unusual. The virus can lay dormant in your system for literally years and years, so you could have got it from any partner you had contact with before your husband, or indeed your husband from the start of your relationship. There is no test for men, so no way of knowing if he had it when you met, but if either of you had sexual contact with anyone else before you met, it could be from that. Once you have hpv your immune system can clear it in the sense that it can be dormant, but it is always in your system and only does damage when it’s active. 

    There is a real stigma around hpv, which is completely unjustified as it is so common. For some people carrying the virus it never causes any problems and in any event only certain high risk strains-and there are over a hundred strains of hpv- cause abnormalities which can lead to cancer. I have 2 daughters, older than yours, but to be honest hpv didn’t come into the discussion about my cancer. They were much more concerned by the fact I had cancer and what my treatment was. Personally I wouldn’t focus on why you have this cancer, but on how your going to get rid of it. I see that as a much more positive way to look at things. I wouldn’t mention it unless they do, personally. My eldest daughter has had abnormal smears so is closely monitored but we still don’t discuss hpv. I didn’t see it as an issue. Do you really feel you have to bring hpv into your discussions with them? xx

  • Offline in reply to Minska

    Hi Minska,

    Thank you for that - it’s really helpful. I think you’re probably right, it’s more important to focus on getting shot of it than how it got there on the first place. If I’m honest it’s probably more of my own hang up than anything else - I worry too much about what people think about me! 

    I’m hoping I won’t continue to be so needy throughout the course of whatever my treatment may be - I’ll get on everybody’s nerves! 

    Thank you once again.x

  • Offline in reply to VicKat1

    Hi VicKat

    I completely get it! I felt a sort of sense of shame when I was diagnosed and an old friend asked if I had hpv and I felt mortified. I didn’t realise then quite how many millions of people in the world carry it..we were just unlucky ours did us more damage. I don’t think about it now because it doesn’t achieve anything. No-one’s ever told me I have hpv but since I have adenocarcinoma I know I have it. Feel free to ask away although I never had a hysterectomy so don’t have any experience of that! xx

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