Hi @mars1651 Stage four, ouch! In answer to your question, the Human Papilloma Virus is a very common virus that almost every adult has. There are many variations of this virus and a lot of information can be gleamed from an internet search of HPV. As far as oral cancer including throat and most squamous cell cancers, if it can be determined that the cancer was the result of the virus by biopsy tests, particularly specific type test panels in area 16, 18, and a few others, then the treatment for the cancer can be specific and often rather successful in the long run. In short form we say HPV P16+ or HPV P18+ etc.
This HPV typing was first wrote about when I was going through my treatments over twenty-three years ago. It was discovered in Italy I believe and took at least ten years to be widely accepted in the oncology arena. Thankfully today if your care team knows that your cancer is HPV +, your treatments can be limited and targeted, and that's a good thing for you.
Find out all you can about what you are about to go through. Someone is here to help you understand what is going on from a patient's point of view, things the doctors don't tell you or have never experienced. When you come out on the other side perhaps you can pay it forward as well. When is your surgery and or treatment start?

Hi @mars1651, may I ask what treatment you are on? How are you doing?