head and neck cancer HPV virus

My husband has recurrent cancer from 2 years ago.  Recently he had a bilateral neck dissection and the pathology report came back that his cancer was probably caused by the HPV virus.  Is this contagious in any way?

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  If you're worried that your husband might spread cancer by spreading HPV infection, you should rest assured that this is a very remote possibility.  HPV infection can be contracted by close body contact (including sexual contact).  However, it usually results in either asymptomatic infection or the development of warts, not cancer.  If an infected person has an adequately functioning immune system, the virus usually is prevented from causing any overt symptoms.