I have read - and it seems logical - that the increasing incidence in tonsil cancers is partly explained by the decreasing incidence of tonsillectomies. I am in my early thirties and don't know anyone of my generation who had this done.

I know that these operations are more major in adults than in children, that not all tonsillar tissue may be removed and that it can regrow. But would it ever be recommended as a precaution against tonsillar cancer?

After all, if one had a persistent oral HPV infection, would the trauma of a tonsillectomy actually provide a better chance for the virus to take hold?

Hello,
I am dealing with oral hpv too. May I ask how you know/knew you had an oral hpv infection?
Thank you.

Hi worries... At the moment, I do not know for sure that I have an oral HPV infection. As I said in my original post, I have just had my first abnormal smear, showing mild dysplasia, so I can assume that it is or was in my system, and as I explained in my first post, I am concerned about the dangers of developing persistent infections (in any part of the body).

As far as I know, there is no widely available test for oral HPV but in the wake of the d'Souza/Gillison study into HPV and oral cancer, it seems there's a lot of enthusiasm for developing one. That study used oral rinses of some kind, I believe. There really seems to be a lot of interest in this field at the moment. I hope it gives people who are affected some hope and some answers.