newperson Posted August 19, 2010 Posted August 19, 2010 If a woman says that she has cervical cancer cells in her body, but they have not yet formed any tumors, does this mean that she also has HPV? Also, if she does have HPV, is it contagious?
Eeyore79 Posted August 19, 2010 Posted August 19, 2010 (edited) Doctors still don't know what actually causes cancer, although having HPV is a risk factor. Out of 200 types of HPV, the majority have no symptoms, and the ones which cause warts etc are typically the low risk types. The really dangerous ones which can lead to cancer are often the ones which have no symptoms, so anyone could be a carrier without realising. Virtually all women with cervical cancer will have one of the high risk types of HPV, but avoiding women with cervical cancer does not mean you will avoid HPV. Only a very small proportion of women with HPV actually develop cervical cancer; most people have at least one type of HPV at some point in their lives, but their immune system deals with it and they probably don't even realise they had it. Edited August 19, 2010 by Eeyore79
zengirl Posted August 19, 2010 Posted August 19, 2010 If a woman says that she has cervical cancer cells in her body, but they have not yet formed any tumors, does this mean that she also has HPV? Also, if she does have HPV, is it contagious? Well, I think she has bigger issues than this. The answer is: She might and likely does. HPV is a potential risk factor to cancer. I believe the numbers of women with some form of HPV are quite startling, and supposedly, it also "goes away" (as in you develop an immunity to that form and no longer become a carrier either) in some women. A lot of it is still a mystery to us, except for very specific kinds of HPV. Really, there's no way to tell if YOU have HPV, as a fellow. Or at least no way that's regularly practiced. Not sure if there is a test but never known a fellow who'd gotten one. Except for immunizations and regular gynecological visits for women, for most forms of HPV, there's very little to do about it.
Author newperson Posted August 19, 2010 Author Posted August 19, 2010 Well, I think she has bigger issues than this. The answer is: She might and likely does. HPV is a potential risk factor to cancer. I believe the numbers of women with some form of HPV are quite startling, and supposedly, it also "goes away" (as in you develop an immunity to that form and no longer become a carrier either) in some women. A lot of it is still a mystery to us, except for very specific kinds of HPV. Really, there's no way to tell if YOU have HPV, as a fellow. Or at least no way that's regularly practiced. Not sure if there is a test but never known a fellow who'd gotten one. Except for immunizations and regular gynecological visits for women, for most forms of HPV, there's very little to do about it. I don't think I have HPV, although I don't know that for sure. I just don't want to get it from her. Roger Ebert had to have part of his tongue and jaw removed after he developed oral cancer that was supposed related to HPV. He was rumored to have had oral sex with many hookers in the 70s or 80s, so he may have gotten it that way.
threebyfate Posted August 19, 2010 Posted August 19, 2010 Doctors still don't know what actually causes cancer, although having HPV is a risk factor. Out of 200 types of HPV, the majority have no symptoms, and the ones which cause warts etc are typically the low risk types. The really dangerous ones which can lead to cancer are often the ones which have no symptoms, so anyone could be a carrier without realising. Virtually all women with cervical cancer will have one of the high risk types of HPV, but avoiding women with cervical cancer does not mean you will avoid HPV. Only a very small proportion of women with HPV actually develop cervical cancer; most people have at least one type of HPV at some point in their lives, but their immune system deals with it and they probably don't even realise they had it.I agree with this except for the bolded word. This word should be changed to "many". There are no facts to support that most have had HPV. I don't think I have HPV, although I don't know that for sure. I just don't want to get it from her. Roger Ebert had to have part of his tongue and jaw removed after he developed oral cancer that was supposed related to HPV. He was rumored to have had oral sex with many hookers in the 70s or 80s, so he may have gotten it that way.There are no FDA approved tests for HPV in men. Most men who have HPV show no symptoms and without an approved test, have no way to know whether they have it.
LoveLace Posted August 19, 2010 Posted August 19, 2010 I've had doctors tell me that just about anyone who's even had sex, ever in their lives, has likely had or have HPV. That's with or without protection, and yes oral sex counts. Hate to tell you but the chances of you already having had it are pretty high. HPV is a form of abnormal cells, and abnormal cells can become cancer, but there are billions of types of abnormal cells so if it's cancer your afraid of avoiding HPV alone isn't going to cut your risk of it by that much. You cut your risk of cancer by paying attention to your immune system...vitamins, exercise, eating right. The idea is to keep your good cells healthy and regenerating so they can fight off abnormal ones when they come. Not that health nuts don't get cancer because they do all the time, but the cause there is likely environmental vs. physical. Only so much we can control but we might as well control what we can...which is a lot more than just contracting HPV.
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