How do you clear the HPV16 virus to prevent cancer recurrence?

@blessed52
I got squamous cell carcinoma on an area not exposed to sun. I was told that HPV could be a cause as almost everyone had it and usually remains dormant but injuries, and immune system can make it (the virus) come back. I was told once you have the virus you cannot take the vaccination to prevent it.

This comes from my Mayo Jacksonville dermatologist and PCP. I asked about treatments and was told there was no way to treat the HPV only vaccination against it.

I cannot comment on AHCC.

I had gone through 30 rounds of proton radiation prior to this cancer coming up. I saw one poster talk about radiation affecting your immune system as body fights the damage done to body with radiation.

I look forward to post that have had medical professionals cite supplements or diet changes that can help.

@blessed52 can you share a bit more about your treatment...nutrition..supplements...etc?
Is your HPV gone? I didn't think that was possible.
Thank you

@blessed42
Sorry I misunderstood your question. I thought you were already on supplements..etc.
Please disregard my comment.

I also had squamous cell cancer to the one area that never gets sun. Went through chemo and radiation. Seemed to clear it up. That was twelve years ago. Now I have endometrial cancer and believe it was caused by the former problem. I was never tested for HPV but believe that it had caused the squamous cell cancer to that particular area. As far as I know, HPV cannot be eradicated from your system. I guess it's similar to herpes in that respect.

I had proton radiation for stage 3 anal cancer last year. I haws hvp positive and worried I would carry it with me into the future and may get cancer again because of it. I now get a special blood draw every 3 months (next one in 2 weeks) that show me as hvp negative. Don’t know if it is because of it being isolated in the tumor or what. Don’t understand the physiology. But happy with negative .

@blessed52, I added your question to the Head & Neck Cancer support group as well as the Cancer group.

You are asking good questions regarding risk of recurrence and the use of integrative medicine to reduce your risk of recurrence. You may interested to learn that more and more cancer centers and oncology specialists are open to discussing and integrating complementary medicine in programs called Integrative Medicine or Integrative Oncology. Integrative medicince is offered at many cancer centers of excellence, including Mayo Clinic.

Here's a link to more information about Mayo Clinic's Integrative Medicine programs
– Integrative Medicine and Health https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/integrative-medicine-health/sections/overview/ovc-20464567

You may also be interested in this related discussion:
- Cancer and working with integrative medicine https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/a-possible-solution/

@blessed52, have you talked to your team at Mayo Clinic about reducing risk of recurrence and/or about integrative medicine or supplements that would be beneficial for you?

@blessed52
Colleen Young has given you some great information and guidance. There are many supplements that the Mayo Clinic team can recommend that have shown promise on helping immune system and beneficial to patients and their specific health issues.

Mayo Jacksonville does have the Intergrative Medicine Program. They also have a Cancer Center that if you choose can coordinate your cancer treatment and care. This is at Mayo Jacksonville I cannot comment personally about Phoenix and Rochester offers.

You can do on Mayo web sites and review the programs. Colleen has provide that link. I did see Integrative Medicine at Jacksonville Mayo and was offered by the cancer center to have me join that program also. Mayo is just a great medical facility that I wish all had opportunities to have access to.

I see some discussion with HPV virus and cancer. Once you have HPV (per my Mayo Dermatologist not me) and my Mayo PCP, once you have contracted HPV it does not go away. Most (again by my Mayo PCP) HPV virus remain dormant and pose no problems to most. Sometimes it can become active and show up from injuries, sores, etc. I was shocked to learn my Squamous skin cancer could have been caused by the HPV virus.

I wanted to treat it but was told the way to treat it was to prevent it with the vaccine. There is not a vaccine to take once you have it. Working on immune system staying strong and good health is what I was told to work on.

I then read on poster saying he had discussion a squanmous skin cancer with his dermatologist that he had developed after radiation treatments. He was told that the immune system can be affected by reaction of body to radiation damage to body.

I had never heard this, nor told this by any of my Mayo doctors. Then I remembered I got my squamous cancer in a non sun area right after I finished my 30 rounds of radiation treatment. I have no idea of the connection and have no medical or professional knowledge to say one thing or another. I just wish the HPV virus vaccine was around when I was growing up and availabe to take.

Thank you so much!!! I appreciate all of your help and support!

Thank you jc76! I appreciate you insight and recommendations!!! May God continue to bless you!