Anyone know anything about papillomas? When my tongue biopsy was 'negative' for cancer, it was positive as a papilloma (viral wart). Now I read that some types of papilloma are a suspected cause of cancer, including oral cancers, and a suspected factor explaining how nonsmokers (like me) get mouth cancer (as I did). My doc is getting the specimen sub-typed to see if it was a pre-cancerous strain of HPV.

I don't mean to get all worried, but lets say I'm curious.

Yes, I studied this subject as once the chemo grabbed me , I developed a strange pox-like rash. As my immune system shut down, the doctor said, ''Is it possible that you have aids, as your immune system is terrible'' I told him of the monkey biting me in Kenya (it was only a small hairless one . , and once tested he found the HPV virus present. Guess the monkey bite was no problem... That in itself is a long story, try google, but somehow it is associated with cancers to these mouth areas. As a nonsmoker , it started the theory of how a percentage of this virus carriers have develpe the mouth area cancers, and for woman cervical cancers. So, read about it. It seems 60% of the population has a strain of HPV, but there are only two types of HPV that are LINKed to the throat/mouth cancer.There is further an interesing Indian aurevedic writings about sexual organs and the linking of the same areas to the mouth -how they are similar in these biological and Chakra -theory. All interesting stuff, and fairly Karma Sutra ladden .... sorry about the spelling today.

Hi Ron and Chris, have a look at this page for HPV info: http://www.rdoc.org.uk/hpv.html
So much screening for HPV in cervical smears but none in throat cancers! I am told it is too expensive to send all biopsies for viral screening in UK. This makes establishing the link between the virus and mouth cancer impossible!
Also when I questioned my ENT surgeon (who is a Cons. Head and Neck Cancer specialist in London), I waa disappointed at how little he knew and had read on the subject!
Sue

Thanks for the input. I'm due for my follow up in two weeks and will learn more then.

Interesting how the cost factors in. Like do you screen everyone to see who is at risk? And then what do you do with that information? I think it will mean I go in to get checked more often, and that's there's nothing else they can do.