I have been helping a close friend who is a throat cancer patient. One day, he thanked me for my help and gave me a very quick "in passing" kind of kiss on the lips. I didn't think anything of it. After leaving I went out it friends, had a drink of soda, and ended up passionately kissing my boyfriend a few hours later. My question is this...what is the likelihood that the HPV virus could have beenn on my lips and was transmitted by drinking and kissing later in the day? Just how easy is it to contract? I am very concerned after all that I have watched my friend go through. I appreciate your help.

Hi Lynnc

The best suggestion I can give is to see your doctor and get tested for HPV--you and your boyfriend, just to be on the safe side. I'm sorry to hear about your friend (I hate to hear about ANYBODY getting any kind of cancer, but H&N's in particular).

Dr Joshi is the best person to answer your questions about HPV exposure and cancer development.

Please let us know how things turn out.

Julia

Hello lyncc

It was good of you to help your close friend. You were kissed because you were appreciated.

• Not all throat cancers are linked to HPV. You don't even know if your throat cancer friend had HPV. In a treated patient the tissue containg the HPV is often surgically removed or irradiated. I doubt that the HPV would still be there following all that treatment.
• Mouth to mouth (in passing type) kissing is very unlikely to transmit the HPV virus. Deep 'french' kissing increases the risk.
• However, most HPV infections are transient and cleared by the body.
• Even in patients who don't clear it, the risk of getting a mouth cancer is really very small otherwise we would be having an epidemic.

So, it was not a dangerous kiss! Your risk is negligible, so I would advise you to stop worrying. And do see your friend again.

Hope that helps.

Best wishes

Vinod