HPV Support Group

Human papillomavirus is a diverse group of DNA-based viruses that infect the skin and mucous membranes of humans. More than 100 different human papillomavirus (HPV) types have been characterized. Some HPV types cause benign skin warts, or papillomas, for which the virus family is named. HPVs associated with the development of such "common warts" are transmitted...

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HPV and cancer..

watchmen
watchmen
Friends, what are the chances of getting penile cancer if I'm infected with HPV? i recently noticed a lot of mole on private part and inner thigh, but i do have few moles on my inner thigh since i was small. My gynae said it might be melanin, and i need not worry about it.

Yet i'm still worried, HPV did a big impact in my life where untill now i'm traumatized with it. please help me.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Watchmen, I'm not informed enough about how hpv affects men to answer this with total confidence, but all that I've ever heard about high risk hpv and men is that they can only be carriers of it. Low-risk hpv (the wart-causing strains) can cause outbreaks in men, but I think that high-risk (the strains that can become precancerous or cancerous) only becomes problematic for women. However, I also think that the medical community is limited in their knowledge about how this virus behaves. Again, to my knowledge, you're not at risk for this turning into penile cancer- especially if you have a low-risk strain.
deleted_user
deleted_user
High risk hpv in men can cause cancer. High risk hpv (16 and 18) are associated with penile and anal cancer in men just as they are associated with cervical cancer. High Risk hpv is not exclusively a womans problem - bowenoid papulosis is an hpv related penile cancer. However the occurance of penile cancer is much less common than cervical cancer. (1300 cases/year vs 12,000 cases/year) And the occurance is very low compared to other cancers. (1300 cases/year vs 186 000 cases /year for prostate cancer in US).
Men, generally speaking, can only know if they have low risk hpv. However, it is possible to have high risk too. So cancer is a potential issue. BUT it is VERY (VERY !!) uncommon ! Stressing about this will give you cancer sooner than hpv will !

Moles, of course, can develop into skin cancer, and hpv 5 has been associated with the development of it. But hpv 5 has nothing to do with low risk or high risk sexually transmitted hpv. Everyone has hpv 5 on their skin. Its normal. Genital hpv is not going to give you skin cancer. There is no connection (as far as I know).

There are lots of possible outcomes to an hpv infection, but cancer is the LEAST likely by a long way especially in men. Most people (women included) are asymptomatic carriers, who dont have any problems. You are not at any significant risk of any serious illness. Keep visiting your doc if you have concerns, but keep this in perspective watchmen. Dont stress :)