HPV worries

Hi  and welcome to the Online Community although sorry to see you joining us.

Sorry to hear that you are high risk HPV..... I have no knowledge or experience in this area to bring to the table but you may be interested in a recent discussion that has started about HPV.

If you hit THIS LINK it will take you directly to the discussion and as always you can hit reply to get involved in the discussion.

Macmillan have many support platforms so do check out the Macmillan Support Line is open 8am-8pm (timings may differ across services) 7 days a week on 0808 808 00 00. These services provide cancer information, practical information, emotional support or just a listening ear. We also have our Ask an Expert section but do allow a few working days for a reply.

Give me a shout if you need further help.

Best regards.

Hi  and welcome.

I would be more than happy to chat to you about this and hopefully put your mind at rest. It’s absolutely not the case that having hpv means you will ever get cancer and it’s absolutely not a death sentence. Almost everyone who is sexually active will encounter the virus in their lifetime and most will never even know. 

If you’d like to join in the recent discussion, please hit the link Mike has provided. We also discuss hpv and smear test results in the cervical cancer group-the link is in my signature and you are welcome to join us there.

Sarah xx

Thankyou for your reply! I feel like my life has been ruined by my diagnosis. A nurse told me everyone that gets hpv gets cancer so as you can imagine I freaked out. Is there anything I can do to help my body fight it? Also can it take longer than 2 years to go? Thankyou 

I’m sorry, but that statement that everyone with hpv gets cancer is absolute rubbish, and I can’t believe a nurse would ever say that. Are you sure you haven't misunderstood? If you think that at least 80% of the sexually active population has come in contact with it, it would be ludicrous to suggest they all get cancer.

If I can gently suggest that your life hasn’t been ruined by being told you have hpv, would you believe me, because I can honestly say it hasn’t. You have no abnormal cell changes, so the virus hasn’t caused you any damage so far, and keeping on top of screening will ensure that any changes would be identified and treated before they ever became cancer.

Yes, it can take longer than 2 years for the virus to clear and the best thing you can do is keep your immune system as healthy as possible through a healthy diet, exercise, the usual things that anyone looking after their health would do. There is no cure for hpv, but the body can suppress it so that it goes dormant and doesn’t cause any damage, It’s just a virus, like herpes and having cold sores. 

I’ve had hpv related cancer twice and I’m still here-I never give hpv a second thought. If you keep thinking in such a way about this, it really will ruin your mental health. There is honestly no reason to suggest you would ever get cancer from carrying the virus. Please try and stop wasting your life worrying about something that is not likely ever to happen-I travel by plane but don’t assume I’m going to die in a crash. Stress is not good in itself and can weaken your immune system, so it’s much better to get on with enjoying your life and being happy.

Sarah xx

Yeah, I was at an appointment with my son who was getting the hpv vaccine and I asked the nurse “not everyone with hpv gets cancer though do they..?” She said with a really sorrowful face “yeah, they do.” I still think of putting in a complaint about her. Thankyou so much for your lovely response. It has reassured me somewhat. Xxx

I would put in a complaint. That is absolute nonsense and she clearly needs some education! 

Sarah xx

Absolutely. I’m really going to try and let go of my worry. It’s all I think about. I have given myself a death sentence. I’ve had no support from healthcare workers, nobody seems to know anything when I ask. 

You have been told something which is incorrect and allowed that to magnify your worry.

I’m still here almost 4 years after a cancer diagnosis, and you are nowhere near a diagnosis of cancer, since you don’t actually have any cell changes.

It’s sad to see that you’re wasting your life obsessing over this, and you really don’t need to. I hope you can find a way to move forward-I’m happy to chat any time you’d like, but you may also want to consider getting some help with your anxiety and depression-don’t let that ruin your life! 

Sarah xx

Hello, I’ve just joined this group tonight and seen this discussion. I have hpv, I’ve had it for 5 years and counting. It doesn’t seem to go away for me. My immune system that should get rid of it just doesn’t do it’s job properly. I screen, have a smear test, every 12 months. I have had cell changes and pre-cancerous cells twice. They have on each occasion been easily removed with just  a little discomfort for 20 mins or so. I’m thrilled that HPV can so easily be found and monitored and any development to pre cancerous cells can so easily be removed with practically no down time. 
I will never delay any smear as it makes sure I stay healthy and fit and the slightest sign of any development is speedily sorted. 
please do not let diagnosis of HPV ruin your life  treat is as power having knowledge of your body. 
Enjoy life.