HPV P16 positive cancer

What do you think the earliest I could get radiation is ? I am hoping we could start in 2 weeks post surgery if possible

My understanding is that all oropharyngeal cancers can be caused by HPV. We were also told that the biopsy is the only way to determine HPV involvement of the cancer, which makes sense why it wasn’t in your blood. Hope you get your radiation as soon as possible. Waiting was very stressful for us as well. It sounds like you are in good hands.

Just had surgery at John’s Hopkins to remove all of he nodes from zones 1 through 4 on left side. The surgeon said he was able to get all of the nodes that were suspect. Now I need to get radiation asap how quickly can this happen ? Also they identified hpv 16 in my original tongue cancer so is this a more favorable outcome. I got hpv when I was 19 and I am 52 now. But it doesn’t show up in my blood anymore. Can tongue cancer be caused by hpv ? I have heard different opinions on it

They link to HPV+ cancer head and neck provided for a different treatment plan than from head and neck cancer from risk factors, ie smoking and drinking mainly. It was found that HPV+ does not typically spread below the neck, and responds very well to radiation therapy. Outcomes are favourable. All I can say is thank God for the vaccine programes in schools to vaccinate for HPV at a young age so that the next generations can be spared from cancers caused by HPV. Not only head and neck, but cervical and other cancers as well that are linked to HPV.

Prepare for the worst. Hope for the best. This trip is not easy for anyone and recovery is much longer than a broken bone or most surgeries.
HPV 16 or otherwise, it is still cancer, the cause of which doesn't make it any easier to deal with. Twenty years ago we only found out about the HPV link. Prior to that it was still cancer.
This is a fight you must fight and a fight you and your team can and usually do win. Hopefully twenty years from now you can help out others fighting this as I do. Or better yet we will have finally conquered this literal pain in the neck cancer. At least you are at one of only a few hospitals / clinics in the US that is well versed in handling your cancer. Good luck and God speed to recovery.

I am hpv 16 head and neck cancer and it’s in at least 3 lymph nodes on left side. I have neck dissection surgery scheduled at John’s Hopkins for Friday not sure what to expect from the surgery or how I will feel after. Want to start radiation asap after the surgery. My cancer was on the left side of tongue.

Hi Newtonguecancer. My research and experience revealed that knowing if your radiologist has perfomed
that specific treatment in the past, will give you comfort. Secondly, going to hospital like Mayo, UW Madison who does this all the time can also be beneficial. I hope that you have done your research and have asked your medical team specific questions about what to expect during your journey. I will pray for you and ask for your speedy
recovery. God Blessed!

I was diagnosed with squamous NSCLC. Stage 1A, five years ago. A lung nodule had been found on a lung screening CT. It was advised I repeat the CT within a year since it was 7mm. The follow-up CT showed it had grown rapidly to a 2.5 cm, spiculated nodule. The pathology report said it was an HPV, highly positive P-16 cancer. They suggested looking for possible origins in the head and neck. The screening came back that there were no other sites so they said it was a Squamous, fast growing NSCLC until there might be another nodule they could biopsy later. I had VATs surgery to remove the lung nodule, and the surgeon said that he couldn't find any lymph nodes to biopsy during the VATs. He said sometimes that happens. I just had the 5 year follow-up CT I have yearly. There has been no recurrence so I've been fortunate. They did see a 7 mm nodule (wouldn't you know) so I'll have it repeated in a couple months. That CT showed no enlarged lymph nodes so I just hope.

The nodule I had VATs to remove was found encased in scar tissue. The surgeon said that he found pulmonary adhesions in the lungs that he spent a good time trying to cut away. These adhesions were a result of awful accident I was in when a bicyclist ran into me causing ten ribs to be fractured in multiple places, a fractured scapula, and lung contusions. I was lucky to make it through. The cyclist had no lights on, and was leaving a bar, but if you're injured by a bicyclist in our state they don't require a breath test, a need to walk a straight line, or proof that you are not above the alcohol limit. No reports are done about the accident, not even an accident report. Anyway I don't know if p-16 is a favorable thing.
I did find that I had tested negative for HPV years ago. I'd like to find out if anyone else may have gotten this type of cancer in scar tissue. There are scar tissue cancers.

I met with surgeon today and I have 3 nodes just on the left side that stand out so the plan is to take out all of the nodes on the left side and then do radiation. Does anyone know if it makes a big difference in outcome in where you go for radiation ?

Hi Pau84, no need to to excuse yourself from sending your email. That is why this site was
developed. I wasn't aware of this site until several years after my diagnosis. I wish I would have known about it sooner. The delay in giving you an answer to what is going on with your right tonsil, has to be very stressful. I am sorry to hear that you have no insurance. I was under the impression that the federal government have options available when someone is unable to get medical insurance. Be sure to make your appointment on the 25th and I look forward to hearing back from you with good results. Take Care and God Bless.