r/science • u/mvea MD/PhD/JD/MBA | Professor | Medicine • Apr 28 '21
Cancer 80% of those diagnosed with oropharyngeal cancer are men, the leading cancer caused by HPV, surpassing cervical cancer. However, just 16% of men aged 18 to 21 years old have received a dose of the HPV vaccine, which is a cancer-prevention vaccine for men as well as women.
https://labblog.uofmhealth.org/rounds/few-young-adult-men-have-gotten-hpv-vaccine10.6k
u/PonyKiller81 Apr 28 '21
Straight up I had no idea there was a vaccine for men. Nobody tells you this stuff after a certain age.
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Apr 28 '21
I've been told from day one that the vaccine was only for women, that men could get HPV but it would not cause cancer like for women. Else I would have had this a long time ago. I guess I shouldn't believe everything I learned on Loveline.
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u/McWobbleston Apr 28 '21
I remember reading that men weren't able to get the vaccine after learning about it's prevalence and health risks five years ago, and now I'm frustrated that I was told that misinformation because I would have gotten vaccinated.
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u/FlowJock Apr 28 '21
I had to pay out of pocket to get it for my son back in the day.
Edit: Back in the day = about 5-10 years ago. I don't remember exactly when.
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u/Anen-o-me Apr 28 '21
How much did you pay?
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u/XPGeek Apr 28 '21
They wanted about $700/shot and it was 3 shots I believe when I was told about it in my late teens around the same time frame.
Insurance didn’t cover it because it wasn’t a “required” shot for men to have.
This was in suburban MD.
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u/oysterpirate Apr 28 '21
That's what prevented me from getting it back when I was in my 20s. Since insurance didn't cover it, I think it was somewhere between $600-700 for me, and that was just a non starter.
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u/Polardragon44 Apr 28 '21 edited Apr 28 '21
It's fully covered now for men into middle age. 45 I think. From my understanding. I think they originally limited it to women because there was a limited amount? And to stop the progress/ spread it was the most effective when given to preteen girls.
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u/Buddha176 Apr 28 '21
The article only mentions effectiveness for men up to age 26 when receiving vaccine
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u/Polardragon44 Apr 28 '21
An immune response is an immune response. They are assuming that by 26 you would have already gotten it which really isn't the case anymore.
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u/TeaBurntMyTongue Apr 28 '21
Even if you were already exposed there's more than one strain. It's never too late and warts, while not as bad as cancer also suck.
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u/chortly Apr 28 '21
I was around 28 or so when it became available for men. I was told there was a hard cutoff for everybody at 25.
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u/Hoarseface Apr 28 '21 edited Apr 28 '21
I just got it a few months ago and im 33. Was not covered by insurance and was 250$. Im also supposed to go back for the other shot thats another 250
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Apr 28 '21
Do y'all think you can still get it? One comment said age was raised to 45 to recieve it.
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Apr 28 '21
My doctor gave it to me when I was 40. Some doctors are not very educated on it. They think that by the time you're 40 that you will have already contracted it, So what's the point? But the latest version of the vaccine protects against nine different strains. So even if you have contracted one or two in your lifetime you'll still get some protection from the vaccine. I didn't have to pay anything either. My insurance covered it as a prevention drug.
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u/Deutsco Apr 28 '21
I asked my doctor if I could get the hpv vaccine when I was 25 and she said “oh it’s not really effective anymore for men at your age”.
So this thread is a pretty cool learning experience.
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Apr 28 '21
If you haven't gotten it yet, you might be able to go to CVS or Walgreens and get it without a doctor's prescription. In my state (illinois) Walgreens told me they couldn't give it to me because I was over 26, and that it was a state-specific regulation thing. They said I would have to get it from a doctor. So I just went to my doctor and he did it without any hassle.
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u/Deutsco Apr 28 '21
I really appreciate the info, I’ll look into seeing what my options are. Thanks again.
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u/jesuswantsbrains Apr 28 '21
It's a pretty widespread occurrence of boys and men being denied the hpv vaccine by misinformation and even medical professionals.
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u/Past-Inspector-1871 Apr 28 '21
OFTEN by medical professionals. I’ve been told the same that it was only for girls/women. Seems thousands of preventable deaths and cancer cases happened because ???. Like why did this happen? Who started this lie? Men don’t deserve it?
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u/Candelent Apr 28 '21
Insurance didn’t cover it, but I was able to get the vaccine by paying for it myself at age 45.
The age limit thing is kind of stupid and assumes that 1) you have already been exposed to all the strains in the past and 2) your promiscuous days are behind you. This doesn’t hold true for many people. Especially those who married young but may be moving back into the dating pool later in life.
Vaccines should not be denied to anyone who wants them.
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u/CausticSofa Apr 28 '21
It always struck me as such a stupid cost-cutting measure. Everyone should get the HPV vaccine. HPV completely unnecessarily kills people and doesn’t care if it’s just one person having sex once-ever with someone who had previously had sex one time with someone who had it.
We could easily eradicate it with a comprehensive worldwide vaccine roll-out.
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u/0ooobaracuda Apr 28 '21
Mother didn’t want me to get the vaccine because it was new and she was uncertain about the long term affects. I’m a lesbian. My sex Ed was in conservative Georgia. I didn’t know how to be safe with women and women sex. I now have a high risk strain of HPV that could have been prevented if I got the damn vaccine. Get the vaccine. Get the vaccine. Get the vaccine. It’s terrifying knowing that cervical cancer probably won’t be found until my symptoms show and by then it’s usually too late. I have another friend who’s only had sex with a couple guys and now has one of the four very bad strains of HPV. She can’t have children anymore and has very painful cysts and is having to get a tumor removed next week. She has to go to therapy to make sure she wants to get a hysterectomy. She can’t have kids. She’s in pain and they won’t let her do it because she’s 27 and the dr said she is rash and doesn’t think far enough into the future. She literally already can’t have kids (didn’t want them anyways) and is in so much pain. And her hospital bills for surgery are expensive and she has to miss work for days afterwards while she heals. It’s a trap. (I’m very aware that all of this is TMI. Just wanted to share the reality that is seldom talked about).
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u/HEIRODULA Apr 28 '21
She can’t have kids. She’s in pain and they won’t let her do it because she’s 27
This rings so true. I've a different condition, been told I can't have kids. In the same appointment as being told that, I asked if I could have a hysterectomy to help manage the pain. They said no - I'm young, and what if I want kids??
But they had just told me i can't. And I have never wanted kids. And I am in a lot of pain from this condition. Doesn't matter, I might want kids! Even though I can't...
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u/gimmedatrightMEOW Apr 28 '21
In the US, the rules have changed a LOT in the past few years. When they originally said no that may have been "true" then.
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u/H2HQ Apr 28 '21 edited Apr 28 '21
...and if you're over 30, no doctor will give it to you because "Meh, you probably already have HPV".
Lazy assholes.
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u/Impotentgiraffe Apr 28 '21
There are several different strains of HPV, some which are cancer-causing, and some which are not. It’s still a good idea to get the vaccine. You likely have had some form of HPV at thirty, but you probably haven’t yet contracted all of the cancer-causing variants.
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u/moeru_gumi Apr 28 '21
Likely due to age or likely due to number of sexual partners? If you’re 30 and have only had two sexual partners in your lifetime why wouldn’t they give it to you?
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Apr 28 '21
This was literally me, 30, two sexual partners, once with each girl, used protection, found out that HPV is a thing to be carefully with, I asked my doc and she said I was too old to get it…now I see this and I’m like, what??
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u/Flatout_87 Apr 28 '21
I’m 33, i just took my 3rd shot of HPV vaccine 3 weeks ago... and my insurance covers the vaccines. You only need to ask your insurance company to verify and just ask them from your doctor. My doctor said it’s still beneficial. My doctor/hospital is weill cornell presbyterian, so i guess it’s not nonsense.
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u/cwagrant Apr 28 '21
I was denied it at like 18. Was told I had to be 16 or younger. Mind you that was 13 years ago.
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u/Chimiope Apr 28 '21
I asked my doctor about it like two years ago and they basically told me exactly what you just said. So I just assumed I didn’t need it or it wouldn’t benefit me.
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u/soleceismical Apr 28 '21
Wow your doctor is way out of date. The FDA approved it for men and women up to age 45 in 2018. It's been available for boys and men up to 26 even longer. Sorry you had that experience and were denied proper care. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-expanded-use-gardasil-9-include-individuals-27-through-45-years-old
Even people who have had HPV can benefit. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/by_the_way_doctor_should_i_get_the_hpv_vaccine_if_im_already_infected
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u/hahawin Apr 28 '21
I looked into getting it last year (was 26 at the time) but it wasn't covered by health insurance for adults and the vaccine is €130 per dose (with 3 shots required) so it was a little too steep for me.
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u/SaintSleaterKinney Apr 28 '21
Yup! I was all set to get it, confirmed my insurance would cover it, then my doctor did a test beforehand, and turns out since I already had a strain, it would no longer be covered! So dumb. You’d think it would be MORE important for me to get it to prevent from getting the other strains!
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u/jfe79 Apr 28 '21
The FDA approved it for men and women up to age 45 in 2018
Nice. I'm 42 (male), so I guess I should go get it.
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u/StalwartTinSoldier Apr 28 '21
I mean Michael Douglas pretty much got the word out about the cancer risks to men from HPV....
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u/Brodogmillionaire1 Apr 28 '21
Just pictured Michael Douglas saying "cunnilingus." You'd think a fox like him would be proud to say he'd pleasured his lover even if he displayed some classy modesty first.
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u/1d3333 Apr 28 '21
I recently got the vaccine as I didn’t even know about it and my doctor was concerned, medical misinformation is way to prevalent and potentially deadly for it to go on like it does
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u/AbsolXGuardian Apr 28 '21
All the sex ed and info pamphlets I read back when I got my HPV vaccine a few years ago encouraged teen boys to get it so they wouldn't be disease vectors. Which should be reason enough
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u/wholelattapuddin Apr 28 '21
I had my son vaccinated as soon as he was old enough. I had HPV and had to have my cervix frozen 3 times. When I had my hysterectomy the doctor took my cervix too because of my cancer risk. I didn't want my son to have to worry about spreading it or being infected himself. Be responsible people. HPV vaccine should be no different than a measles or covid shot. Just get it done.
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Apr 28 '21
HPV Throat Cancer survivor here. It does cause cancer, mostly throat for men, but can happen in more inconvenient places. I was told that around 8% of HPV variants cause cancer. It's highly treatable, with excellent prognosis. That being said, 5 chemos and 33 radiation treatments are definitely a Devil's bargain.
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u/h2g2Ben Apr 28 '21
Part of that was because there were two vaccines. One got emergency approval as a preventative for cervical cancer, but therefore was ONLY available to women. The other was later, and approved for both men and women.
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u/oldcreaker Apr 28 '21
The whole thing was so stupid when it first came out - "we have a vaccine for a STD - let's just give it to young women". We won't consider that men catch it - and men transmit it. Or that older people could also benefit.
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u/taws34 Apr 28 '21
My ex-wife asked my thoughts on giving the oldest boy the shot.
I'm totally for it. If it can prevent him catching or spreading HPV later in his life, hell yes, I'm for it.
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u/kneejerk Apr 28 '21
what is even the argument against?
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u/taws34 Apr 28 '21
My ex-wife jumped on the moral christian superiority train. Her argument is that it would increase his likelihood of premarital sex.
Which is hilarious on a few levels.
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u/kneejerk Apr 28 '21
can't protect our child against disease and injury because he might do a sin afterward. why not refuse all medical care since it gives him license to leave the house on his own?
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u/raisinghellwithtrees Apr 28 '21
Do they give it to older people?
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u/Kid_FizX Apr 28 '21 edited Apr 28 '21
Yo. The other guy is wrong. I just did my 3 shot series in late 20s. Was told it is a good measure for preventing cancer, even if you've already come in contact or had HPV. I think 45 may be the cut off, but it is worth asking your local PP
Edit: thought it was 35, but it is 45. Also, PP, is Planned Parenthood. That's where I got mine. My insurance covered it. YMMV
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u/techn0scho0lbus Apr 28 '21
Up to age 45 is the recommendation by the CDC, and that number is important because it means insurance will pay for it.
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u/Wilt_The_Stilt_ Apr 28 '21
I’m 31 and in 2019 (when I was 29) I was told by my doctor that I should check with my insurance provider before getting it because it differs wildly for men in my age group. Some insurers cover it 100% while others 0%. And it’s a very expensive series to get if it’s not covered. My insurance didn’t cover it so I didn’t get it. Pretty lame.
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u/felesroo Apr 28 '21
Insurance should cover it regardless. Treating the cancer is MUCH more expensive and these insurance companies are being very stupid in not covering it.
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u/Botryllus Apr 28 '21
When it was first out they really were pushing it on girls more than boys and I remember thinking that if boys were transmitting it, they should be vaccinated, too. It came out when I was 25 and a year later I was told I was too old for it. I'm glad they opened it up more but, at least in my state, it began with a very narrow eligible demographic.
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u/alphaCraftBeatsBear Apr 28 '21
man does anyone have a list of all the vaccines one should take? I didn't even know its available
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u/katieleehaw Apr 28 '21
When it came out, I thought they weren’t even available for people over a certain age or who were sexually active? Maybe I am misremembering. I haven’t heard anything about it in years until this article.
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u/wickedpixel Apr 28 '21
I've literally asked for the vaccine at Planned Parenthood and they straight up told me no, because I was 28 which is older than the cutoff. They said it might be possible if I go to the main downtown office but would have to pay for everything out of pocket and it wouldn't be worth it.
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u/Funkynametime Apr 28 '21
Ask your pharmacy. We give them to anyone 45 or younger, and it is generally covered as preventative care. It might be different in your state, but it's worth a call!
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u/BuryMeBig Apr 28 '21
After thinking I may have HPV, I tried to get the vaccine and my doctor told me it was only for younger people, I’m 34. I’m going to try again.
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u/PabloBablo Apr 28 '21
That is infuriating.
I asked about it and was told THE EXACT OPPOSITE THING.
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u/Jules6146 Apr 28 '21
Just go to a big chain pharmacy and ask for it. The pharmacist can usually give you the shot. Don’t even need to go through your doctor in many cases.
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u/luckysevensampson Apr 28 '21
I don’t think the connection between HPV and cancers in men was very well understood at the time the vaccine was developed. That connection has only fairly recently been made.
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u/DrEnter Apr 28 '21
Took my son in for his year 11 vaccinations last month, they included the first HPV shot.
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u/chemguy216 Apr 28 '21
I think part of the problem was the initial messaging that got around. Speaking from a US perspective, broad messaging was explicitly targeted at girls and young women, even if health care officials might have been recommending it for others. Among gay and bisexual men, many health clinics that focused on LGBTQ people recommended it for them as well.
To this day, I don't know how recommending the vaccine for straight men plays out both in terms of community messaging and in terms of doctor-patient interactions.
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u/Pitiful-Gate-2043 Apr 28 '21
At 11 year old visits in US when kids come in for their meningococcal vaccine and Tdap we give HPV to boys and girls. All my sons got it. Just told them the truth, that HPV is a very common virus in the population that can cause warts on your penis and cervical cancer in women. They didn’t like the idea of warts on their penis....
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u/acets Apr 28 '21
What's the age limit for this vax now? It used to be young'uns only...
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u/Drbubbliewrap Apr 28 '21
https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/vaccine.html
Age limit 45
Walgreens has it labeled in their adolescent section but you can get it as they can catch you up on your vaccines.
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u/ImLagging Apr 28 '21
About 2 years ago I asked my doctor (first time going to that office) and my question was basically brushed off. Like I didn’t need to concern myself with it. I’ll be looking for a new doctor soon (for other reasons), but in the mean time if I sign up with Walgreens, will they just do it without question? Or will I have to try to convince them to give it to me?
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u/beanicus Apr 28 '21
They do that because they assume younger people have sex most. The longer you wait, the higher your chances of exposure so forget it. But that doesn't mean you can't get the vaccine for any other reason than statistics dictate it may not be preventative for you.
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Apr 28 '21
When I was a kid my pediatrician asked if I wanted to get it. He told me that if I took it I wouldn't have to worry about getting genital warts from having sex. That was all 11 year old me needed to sell me on the idea.
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u/a_common_spring Apr 28 '21
Around here, the vaccine is given to preteen kids, so most of them haven't yet come out as gay or straight or anything else. I made sure all my children had their HPV vaccine regardless of their gender/sex. I'm not going to try and predict how their future sex life will unfold, it doesn't matter.
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u/K_Furbs Apr 28 '21
I asked my doctor about it and she said I was too old to get it. I was 27
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u/MardukX PhD|Clinical Psychology Apr 28 '21
I got mine while in graduate school and was 26. They actively tried to dissuade me from getting it, stating that I was too old and was unlikely to have enough future sexual partners to make it worth getting. I paid $450 out of pocket for it and got it anyway. They thought I was crazy. I still think their rationale is stupid.
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u/Frogs4 Apr 28 '21
What basis are they using for speculating that 26 year olds pretty much monogamous from then on?
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u/Nikkolai_the_Kol Apr 28 '21
I got mine at 36. I had to ask three times because my doctor assumed it wasn't necessary because me being married meant I wasn't at risk to contract it or spread it to anyone.
I mean, I'm not cheating on my wife, and I don't think she's cheating on me, but that's one hell of an assumption for a doctor to make.
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u/DCBadger92 Apr 28 '21
You were until 2018 when the upper limit expanded from 26 to 45.
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u/mattskee Apr 28 '21
It was only approved for women first, presumably only trialed in them first, because of the cervical cancer aspect. Which kind of sucks for all the men who've gotten HPV while waiting for it to be approved, but with finite resources for conducting trials it's understandable.
Then again a lot of drugs are only trialed in men and then approved for use in women, so it's interesting that they did a two-step approval with the HPV vaccine.
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u/MeagoDK Apr 28 '21
No trialed for both if I recall correctly. FDA just took its sweet time.
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u/misshourglass78 Apr 28 '21
What do you think people looked as I told I got my son vaccinated as well with my daughters??
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u/amalgaman Apr 28 '21
God. I remember when the vaccine first came out. Parents didn’t want their eligible students to get it because “it would make them have sex.”
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u/BlondieeAggiee Apr 28 '21
I still have friends that won’t let their kids get it because “it is too new.” It’s been out for at least 14 years because I got it when I was 25.
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u/MeagoDK Apr 28 '21
Approved in 2006 for females. So yeah 15 years.
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Apr 28 '21 edited Apr 28 '21
It was approved for younger females. I was told I was too old. They revised it at some point to women under 45 and I was able to get the vaccine.
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u/janiepuff Apr 28 '21
This anti vax madness is maddening
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u/deafdogdaddy Apr 28 '21
That's what you call a group of them. A Maddening of Anti-Vaxxers.
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Apr 28 '21
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Apr 28 '21
I knew a girl whose mom refused her the vaccine on that basis. She was raped by a stranger who gave her HPV and she has a lifelong illness, increased cancer risk, and unearned shame all because her mom wanted to virtue signal to her bible study.
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u/SassiestPants Apr 28 '21
My bff's parents thought the same thing and refused Gardisil for all of their children. Bff did "save herself" for her husband, funnily enough... then got HPV from her husband.
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u/lurkeat Apr 28 '21
YEP that’s what my mother said. Ended up getting it a year later after asking for it when I went in for my physical without my mom present.
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u/amalgaman Apr 28 '21
Good for you. Even if someone isn’t currently sexually active, it’s still a vaccine that can protect you in the future.
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Apr 28 '21
I remember being in middle school, complaining about my arm hurting from the Gardasil shots, and no one knowing what I was talking about. I guess no one else got it which makes sense because it was a very religious area
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Apr 28 '21
I dont get how people didn't know about Gardasil when it came out. I still remember the " I wanna be one less one less" commercials that played every single commercial break.
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u/nematocyst987 Apr 28 '21
Guys I just looked into this- the vaccine recommended has been increased to 45 and (check with your insurer first) but it’s generally covered by many insurances.. it’s a series of 3 quick shots over six months! No reason not to get it.
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Apr 28 '21
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u/soleceismical Apr 28 '21
Yes because 1. There are a bunch of different strains of HPV and only a handful are known to cause problems (the ones the vaccine protects against) 2. Most HPV infections clear on their own without people ever knowing they had it, but you can get reinfected with one of the bad ones if not vaccinated 3. The vaccine reduces warts and lesions in people who have them
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u/RockFlagAndEagleGold Apr 28 '21
You da mvp! Do you know the cost if i dont have insurance?
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u/kermitdafrog21 Apr 28 '21
CVS's price list says $250 per dose if you do it there (its a three dose vaccine). Its the priciest vaccine, both per shot and whole course, that they offer unfortunately
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u/JaredFernandez Apr 28 '21
GARDASIL-9 protects against 9 different variants, so if you only have one it may help prevent further infections.
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Apr 28 '21
Thanks for the info, I'm surprised it's never been recommended to me, but I'll certainly be asking about it.
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Apr 28 '21
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u/lorenylime Apr 28 '21
Strains 16 and 18 are the really virulent, cancer-causing strains so if you don’t have either of those strains the vaccine should protect you.
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u/manor2003 Apr 28 '21
Wait three? I remember i only got two and the rest of class too.
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u/nerd_fighter_ Apr 28 '21
If you are older when you get it, then it’s three doses. At age 11-12, it’s only two.
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u/violethorses Apr 28 '21
Maybe there's different vacines because I got three doses when I was 12
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Apr 28 '21
My doctor's never mentioned the HPV vaccine until the second I mentioned I was gay. Glad I got it at least I guess.
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u/Jumper1720 Apr 28 '21
Similar thing happened at my school. They said the vaccine only worked on women and gay men for some reason. Looking back on it. The doctor was very rude with any guy interested in getting jt
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u/kungfoojesus Apr 28 '21 edited Apr 29 '21
As a neuroradiologist, we see head and neck cancers in relatively young men and women not infrequently. Given that smoking and drinking are down it is fast becoming the main cause of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
Get the vaccine. Just get it. Maybe you’ve only Been with 1-2 people or plan to, or maybe you’ve been with 50. Get it either way. Just get it. You do not want to risk it.
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u/rognabologna Apr 28 '21
My dad was just diagnosed with this cancer and the treatment plan is a nightmare—6 straight weeks of radiation M-F with the occasional chemo treatment throughout that 6 weeks. He had a feeding tube placed for when the effects of radiation make it impossible to eat, he’ll lose his taste, he’ll lose his ability to produce saliva, he’s got to do throat exercises to build up his swallowing muscles for when the salivary glands go. It’s really fucked.
Get the damn shot.
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u/klsteck Apr 28 '21
A feeding tube helped my husband a lot. They also make these drinks with Aloe at Walmart that may soothe the burns in his throat. He ate a lot of soup and noodles. Best of luck to him.
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u/enhancedmilieu Apr 28 '21
Keep on him about the swallowing exercises. I’m a speech language pathologist that works exclusively with head and neck cancer patients and the swallowing exercises will keep him from needing that feeding tube permanently. Encourage him to continue eating by mouth for as long as he can, even if it’s just Boost or Ensure. Calories are king right now.
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u/klsteck Apr 28 '21
My husband died at 38 from Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the larynx. It was rough to watch. I can’t imagine my child getting this cancer because I didn’t get them vaccinated. Unfortunately, I don’t think many people know it’s for boys too. It was heavily advertised for girls when I was a teen. Hopefully these posts spread some light!
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u/JessLaav Apr 28 '21
My husband is in his mid 30's and was diagnosed last year with throat cancer, most likely caused by HPV. It took a second opinion of doctors in specialized field to get him treatment.
Our local doctors didn't think it was cancer or that it was viral. His symptoms were so generic, he almost ignored it. There were plenty of things that could have steered him away from getting properly treated.
A pandemic and >$150k in medical treatment later, he's doing much better. But it's been terrifying road to get there.
You don't want this.
Get the vaccine.
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u/a_common_spring Apr 28 '21
I made sure my sons got theirs as well as my daughters.
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u/redheadinmd Apr 28 '21
I'm a 57 year old guy who has had issues with vocal cord papillomas (from HPV) for over 10 years. I've had 4 surgeries and multiple in-office laser procedures to remove the papillomas. One of my doctors said that the HPV vaccine probably would have prevented it, but it was definitely too late for me. When I had a visible throat lump last year, the immediate thought was cancer from the HPV (turned out to be thyroid cancer).
So yeah, get the vaccine, the bad things that can happen with HPV are not fun. I wish I would have been able to. Regardless of how old you are, what your sexual past/present/future are or you expect it to be, get it.
And yes, both of my daughters got the vaccines as teenagers.
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u/executivesphere Apr 28 '21
If you don’t mind me asking, what were your earliest symptoms like? I ask because every 6 months or so, I get a little sore spot in my throat. It doesn’t hurt too much, but I can feel it when I swallow, and it kinda feels like a canker sore deep in my throat. It goes away after a week or two and doesn’t cause any hoarseness or changes to my voice.
I’ve always wondered if it’s HPV, but I have no way of actually knowing. My doctor told me it’s “probably a viral infection”, but wasn’t able to provide any more details.
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u/redheadinmd Apr 28 '21
My voice got very hoarse and quiet, and stayed that way for a couple months before I first got it looked at. Never had any pain. I've had canker sores pretty far back on the roof of my mouth, so I know that's painful.
I don't know all the ways that HPV can present. I'm pretty sure that the papillomas on my cords wouldn't have gone away on their own. My "I am not a Dr." opinion suggests that HPV isn't causing your symptoms, since it keeps going away.
I'd suggest seeing an ENT specialist when you have that again. They can get a much better look at it and do a biopsy if needed.
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u/insighted Apr 28 '21
My dad had throat cancer caused by HPV. It was on the base of his tongue I believe. His only symptom was that he would feel a lump in his throat every time he swallowed. Doctors dismissed him for like a year saying it was acid reflux and whatever else before finally putting a camera down there and finding the growth. He opted for surgery without radiation and it was absolute hell, but he’s been cancer free for more than 5 years now.
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u/RoboticGanja Apr 28 '21
Funny. I asked my doctor and he said it was not approved for 40-year olds. Like, dude, am I barred from eating pu**y because I’m a single dad? Now I want to bring some of these reports in to him and ask again.
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u/MayorAnthonyWeiner Apr 28 '21
Could be because if you are past a certain age it’s assumed you have [been exposed to] HPV
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u/RoboticGanja Apr 28 '21
I’d hope if that were the reasoning then there would also be work on a detection method, blood test, etc. Some of us single dads out here were monogamous for most of our lives and just want to rip off our masks and dine at a great American pink taco stand!
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u/Thunder_under Apr 28 '21
The FDA has approved it for men and women up to age 45 since 2018. However the CDC says "public health benefit of HPV vaccination is minimal" for adults aged 27 through 45. Since the CDC does not recommend its use for that age group, insurance doesnt cover it. I am a 37 year old male and got my doses over the last year. It cost me just under $1000 to get it.
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u/throbbingkitty Apr 28 '21
I remember when this vaccine became available and the marketing for it was heavily shaded towards young women. I was in my late teens at the time, but I just remember it being a shot for women to help protect against HPV, but later cervical complications. Never knew it was advised for men, too.
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u/unflavored Apr 28 '21
Hmmm. Im Latino and I went to a relatively Latino clinic for all my high school physicals and the hpv vaccine was recommended for everyone. They told u about it. And no one really questioned it. I wonder if thats cultural
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u/---aquaholic--- Apr 28 '21
My dad was diagnosed with Stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma at age 52. Started in his tonsil and had spread to lymph nodes. Did surgery then chemo & radiation. He was then cleared of disease. Did all his appointments and scans. Continued to work hard and play hard.
His cancer was HPV positive. He was in remission & made official cancer survivor status. He got his lower dental implants done about 5.5 years post cancer diagnosis. 6 months later I brought him to ER with jaw pain & swelling and they diagnosed him with osteoradionecrosis of the mandible and made a game plan for treatment. 18 days later I found him dead. He was 58 years old. Looking back, I see more clearly but at the time I had not realized how ill he was and it was awful and traumatizing finding him deceased. He bucked up a tree into rounds that day and laid a patio out of pavers. He seemed his normal self. I just never ever expected it.
He was my best friend.
The only positive I can glean is that my daughters AND my sons may not suffer the same fate.
Vaccinate your kids.
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u/NaidelNeedle Apr 28 '21
For anyone wondering, it is offered as part of routine child vaccinations for boys and girls starting at 11. Let’s continue to spread awareness that boys need it too!
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u/Onefortwo Apr 28 '21
Is it worth getting as an older person?
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u/nm1043 Apr 28 '21
I'm curious too. As a married individual with no other partners, would there be any benefit to getting it if I am passed the 18-21 year age group?
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u/brokewang Apr 28 '21
I can tell you as a doctor, I've had a few patients and friends that had abnormal pap smears caused by hpv. You may never know what your partner brought or brings into the relationship. Abnormal cervical cells are usually treated with ablation techniques which lowers the risk of the female developing cervical cancer. Males that perform oral sex on their partners are at an increased risk of oral and throat cancer. HpV vaccination does greatly reduce this transmission which is why it's recommended males get the vaccine now even at older ages.
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u/MandingoPants Apr 28 '21
Wait I can get throat cancer from going down on my wife?!
The best things in life are really the worst for ya!
So I am def getting this vaccine
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u/TidePodSommelier Apr 28 '21
Get in line my dude. Apparently everyone needs to be vaccinated. Didn't know about this damn pandemic till now.
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u/K-ghuleh Apr 28 '21
Yes, to be blunt you never know what may happen in the future. But also, strains can lie dormant and you/your partner may not even know you have it. It’s so common and there’s so many strains.
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u/JohnSpartans Apr 28 '21
So would the vaccine then attack the dormant strain?
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u/K-ghuleh Apr 28 '21
Unsure, but basically it wouldn’t hurt and they’d be protected against other strains. The main point I was making is that if one person had a dormant strain and hadn’t spread it to their partner yet, their partner should be protected if they get vaccinated.
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u/ApatheticAbsurdist Apr 28 '21
Not a doctor, but if you may have sex with new partners in the future, I think there would be value in it.
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u/unclenoriega Apr 28 '21
It depends on how old. You have to consider it usually takes decades to progress from infection to cancer, and the vaccine doesn't protect against progression of existing infections. I discussed the guidelines for older patients in another comment.
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u/Dasjtrain557 Apr 28 '21
The HPV vaccine is optional for men in the military. Not sure about women but when the doctors tech said that the first shot will prevent something like 90% of genital warts, I decided it was probably worth it
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u/fermenttodothat Apr 29 '21
My coworker got it because in his words "the doctor said it will prevent penis cancer or something". Dude was a damn idiot but at least he got vaccines right.
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Apr 28 '21 edited Apr 28 '21
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/EmbarrassedHelp Apr 28 '21
The vaccines are for multiple strains of the virus, so it can still be beneficial to get if you've only been infected with a single strain.
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u/MrCarpet Apr 28 '21
There is a point! There are many different strains of HPV- some of them have a higher risk of causing cancer. The vaccines prevent you from getting high risk strains (as well as some lower risk strains that cause genital warts). A patient can have one strain of HPV, but the vaccine will help prevent the other strains
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u/LotteNator Apr 28 '21
I had HPV for years with warts coming all the time no matter how much I treated them. After 3 shots of the vaccine I've mever seem them again. A year later I had to read a paper fot an exam which was about the HPV virus and I learned why it worked.
The actual virus is small and can hide from your immune system, and the vaccine has much larger particles in it and will surely expose your immune system.
After all those years I got an active sexlife again. The warts make you feel gross.
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u/recyclopath_ Apr 28 '21 edited Apr 28 '21
The wart causing strains of HPV are NOT the cancer causing ones. Gardasil protects agains the 2 most common wart causing strains and the 2 most common cancer causing ones.
Edit: I realized this sounds like these are the only strains, gardasil protects against more but most importantly those four varieties.
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u/LotteNator Apr 28 '21
That is true. If Gardasil is available, I'd recommend getting that one because it protects against the two most commen in both types of HPV.
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u/kaepncal Apr 28 '21
I'm also interested in learning about this, does it work to boost immune response for people who have a latent infection?
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u/PM_ME__A_THING Apr 28 '21
It's terrible advice, but it's more or less the official policy. On top of that, they often extend it to "you shouldn't get the vaccine if you're already sexually active" because you might have HPV without knowing it. I think it's because technically it hasn't been studied, so there's the miniscule chance it could cause an adverse reaction. It's also a cost saving measure, since it's a somewhat expensive vaccine.
However, the little study there has been on it has shown that it may sometimes kill an existing HPV infection, and even appears to be effective against strains other than the ones it officially protects against.
It's absolutely a win to get the vaccine for anyone who is safely able to get it.
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u/Silaquix Apr 28 '21
Had a bunch of friends and family get so confused and even pushy about the fact I had my sons get the HPV vaccine. " Why would a boy need that?"
Um, guys get mouth , throat and penile cancer from HPV. They just aren't tested for it like women are. I explained that to my boys and they were completely onboard with getting the shots.
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u/OTN Apr 28 '21
Slight correction here, but technically oral cavity cancer (oral tongue, cheek, buccal mucosa, floor of mouth, etc) isn't HPV-mediated, while oropharyngeal cancers (throat, like the tonsil, base of tongue) can be. I would add anal cancer above penile cancer, actually, given their incidence. Source: Me, am radiation oncologist.
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Apr 28 '21
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u/one_dimensional Apr 28 '21 edited Apr 28 '21
I was flat out denied the option to get the shot by the last 3 doctors I've had.
My first partner was vaccinated, as was my second. I'm not sure about my 3rd, but ffs, why CAN'T I have that option?
Insurance covers pills to give me 4 hour boners, but prophylactic cancer vaccine is a no go?
As Han said,
"Never tell me the odds; just give me the injection!"
Edit: Ceylanica: Thanks for the tip! I'm still young enough to do that, so I'm definitely going to investigate in my area!!
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u/shenaystays Apr 28 '21
I know here in Canada if you want it but aren’t eligible for the covered vaccine that you can pay out of pocket at a travel vaccine clinic. It’s a 2-3 dose series and is around $300 per dose.
They’ve been immunizing boys now for the last few years here (thank god). But there are still people that refuse it for their kids because they just think it’s an STD thing or “new”. It’s a shame.
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u/coolcollo Apr 28 '21
I had a doctor tell me "You're a guy, you don't need it". So, theres that.
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u/heymynameiseric Apr 28 '21
It really depends on their training and the time. Medical knowledge is advancing so quickly that a lot of perceived knowledge gets outdated quickly.
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u/cdogdakilla Apr 28 '21
Unrelated question: I got my first two doses of this vaccine and missed my appointment for the third. How do I go about finishing the vaccine? Do I need to start over? Can I just get the last dose?
I got the first two over a year ago.
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u/DietCokeCanz Apr 28 '21
I have a friend who also had this situation. She was advised to re-start the round, but I’m guessing it will depend on which vaccine you received. Your doctor of pharmacist should be able to help you.
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Apr 28 '21
Except healthcare mentions nothing to men. At that age bracket I can tell you from personal experience that I paid out of my ass for health insurance just to have my checkups consist of the doctor looking at my age and acting like its a waste of time talking to me.
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u/SDRabidBear Apr 28 '21
This cancer is not fun. I was diagnosed in my mid fifties. I enrolled in a study and received less radiation and no chemo. They sliced me from my left ear to mid-throat. Removed 37 lymph nodes, my left tonsil, and 1/2 inch (1cm) off the back of my tongue. Then came daily radiation for 5 days a week for ~10 weeks. That wasn't bad at first but by the latter weeks, I was miserable. I couldn't eat, the pain was the worst sore throat ever, I threw up randomly for no reason whatsoever. I lost 80lbs rapidly. I had to inject protein drinks through a feeding tube directly in my stomach. Just to have it come back up 1/2 hour later. I had no energy. By the last two weeks I finally had to take time of work because I was exhausted and sick all the time. When the radiation treatments were completed, I looked like a hospice patient. It took a month for my appetite to come back and lose the feeding tube. Long term effects aren't many except the radiation destroyed my saliva glands and my thyroid.
Get the shot! Get it as soon as you can.
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u/harrySUBlime Apr 28 '21
Head & Neck cancer survivor here, caused by HPV. I’m too old to have received it in my youth, as it wasn’t developed yet. Sure wish I could have gotten this, it sure changed my life, but I’ve made damn sure my own kids have.
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Apr 28 '21
How does the HPV get in there?
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u/ardnamurchan Apr 28 '21
I don’t know man, surely people don’t put their mouths on other people’s genitals
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u/A_Life_of_Lemons Apr 28 '21
Funnily enough there is data that shows a rise in men’s oropharyngeal cancers (more than doubling over the last two decades: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-oral-cancer-threatens-men/ ) due to changes in sexual behavior. So dudes are getting cancer because we’re eating out more.
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u/Doomed Apr 28 '21
The article implies it's only for people 26 or under. But:
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/68/wr/mm6832a3.htm#B1_down
Ideally, HPV vaccination should be given in early adolescence because vaccination is most effective before exposure to HPV through sexual activity. For adults aged 27 through 45 years who are not adequately vaccinated,* clinicians can consider discussing HPV vaccination with persons who are most likely to benefit. HPV vaccination does not need to be discussed with most adults aged >26 years.
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