How did I contract HPV16 in nasal cavity causing me to get nasopharyngeal cancer?

[Oliviamir]

I was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer cause by the HPV16 virus and since then have been treated. Currently I'm in remission. My husband of 21 years is the only person I have ever had intimacy with. I have read that the HPV virus can be transmitted through oral sex, deep kissing, and even sharing utensils. I do not fall into the typical category for this type of cancer as I'm an American born Hispanic who has lived in California all my life and eat mostly natural foods and very little processed foods. From what I have read on your posts oral HPV is rare. My questions is how could I have gotten HPV16 in my nasal cavity? How rare is it? I have been told that nasopharyngeal cancer is not that common in the US especially from HPV16.

[DumbDecisions2017]

Wow, I'm glad you are in remission.  I assume they did a biopsy of the tumor and it was hpv 16 positive. Did you have any idea you had HPV 16 before tour diagnosis?  What stage anf symptoms did you have?

Most head and neck cancer from HPV occurs in the tonsils or base of tongue area, but it's all connected (nose, mouth, throat) and hpv seems to sometimes manifest in areas where there was seemingly no contact.  If there's a passage from the site of infection, I guess the cancer can occur there.

Honestly, I don't know enough about nasal cancer to really provide any useful information.  It seems like it's the luck of the draw with hpv.   The medical community can't seem to do much with it either.  It's pretty terrible.

Anyways, I hope you dry in remission and keep improving.  Hopefully some of those harsh side effects go away or get much better in time.