1. < Head & Neck Cancer

HPV and Chemical Exposure

Posted by ziegler2996 @ziegler2996, Oct 13 5:29pm

My husband just finished 35 radiations and 7 chemo's. He is a firefighter and we are wondering if the exposure to all kinds of chemicals/arsenics could have played a role in the dividing of cells in addition to the HPV 16? What I have read is that squamous cell carcinoma happens when there is an exposure to UV, arsenics, tobacco, etc. So is it possible that if you have had HPV for 35 years (dormant) and 35 years of exposure to chemicals/arsenics that it would be possible that they BOTH play a role in the cells dividing and turning to cancerous cells?

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cris2 | @cris2 | Nov 13 5:42am

Thanks. So far my husband is doing ok, he’s going to immunotherapy every three weeks. He can work outside and we do things together, but there’s that worry that’s always there. It’s still hard for him to eat and slower going down. It will be a year done come January. This must be how it will be, the throat doesn’t really heal. He’s been back to ent dr he did a scope so been checked.

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goffrey | @goffrey | Nov 13 7:44am
In reply to @roblem "For additional info. there are over 150 plus strains in the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) family and..." + (show)
@roblem

For additional info. there are over 150 plus strains in the HPV (Human Papillomavirus) family and most of the body's immune system typically eradicates the virus within two years 90% of the time and most strains of HPV go away permanently without treatment. Unfortunately, where it doesn't, can cause health problems like cancer sometime down the road. Age is a risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer. It’s more common in older adults because it takes years to develop.
Also, 90% of all oral cancers today are now HPV-related and mostly are made up of men. Of all those HPV strains there are a few that cause cancer such as, HPV 16 & 18 are most commonly associated with development of cancer. The HPV 16 strain is strongly associated with throat cancer.

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Though it mostly men there are still women who do get it as I am one and it needs to be said more often. My cancer was missed for almost 2 years due to it being thought of as a disease men get.

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