HPV still with me

[ConfusedaboutHPV]

I was diagnosed with HPV about a year and half ago.  It developed into Cervical Cancer of grade 1B1.  I had to have a Radical Hysterectomy back in December of last year.  It's now a year later, and I went for a routine followup PAP Smear.  The PAP Smear showed that I still have the HPV virus, but it hasn't developed into any form of Dysplasia in my remaining tissue.  I was told that I should try to keep myself healthy, so that the chances of elimating the HPV virus would be better.  Also, I have not had sexual relations with anyone since my surgery.  My question is this.  Why do I still have HPV, if almost everything that it could spread to was cut out of me???  How and why does it still exist in my body???  Will it ever develop into any other possible forms of Cancer, anywhere in my body???  If so, where?  Or am I pretty much safe from here on out, even if it still remains in my body?

Thank you for your help!

[simplynat]

Unfortunately, even with a hysterectomy, HPV can still cause dysplasia and/or cancer of the vagina and vulva (as well as anal, penile and oral) even without new exposure to the virus. While these occurences aren't common, they aren't rare either. Which is why it is so important for you to continue with regular smears and HPV tests.
As it was mentioned above, HPV is fought by the immune system and the best way to fight HPV is keeping a healthy lifestlye, which involves exercise, minimal stress, healthy eating with lots of cruciferous vegetable containing DIM (like kale, brocolli, bok choy), sometimes folic acid supplements can help, adequate sleep, no smoking, nothing irritating in the vagina, using condoms and in general keeping a healthy immune system.
Can I also suggest another forum for you? I hghly recommend it, it is sponsored by the National Cervical Cancer and HPV coaliton, many of the members attend the conferences regularly so there is a lot of wisdom, accurate information (with up to date research) as well as support there. I highly recommend it. There are also a few women on there who have been treated for cervical cancer, had hysterectomy and continue to deal with HPV. Best wishes to you!

[Naveed777]

I'm sorry to hear about your Radical Hysterectomy... They probably have removed you cervix as such you can't get the cervical cancer again even if you've the hpv still in there...

You were "diagnosed" with hpv just a year and half ago but you might have had it undiagnosed for years... if you were having regular pap smears it was unlikely that you couldn't had knew about the cervical abnormalities... What's your age?

All the tips by AmandaRene are good but you might need some extra nutrition and medication as it seems that you had extremely poor lifestyle in past... You should discuss with your doctor...

[Amanda0922]

First of all, I am so sorry for what you've had to deal with. From everything I have read and heard, the progression of your hpv infection causing cancer is incredibly fast.

I can't say about other parts of your body being affected by cancer caused by hpv as well. I'm sorry, I simply don't know. But I bet someone else here can help you with that.

What are you doing to clear the virus? Poor diet, inadequate amount of sleep, smoking, drinking and especially stress can all wreak havoc on your immune system. I have read that nicotine from cigarettes becomes concentrated in the cervix, which is why it's so important for women who have hpv not to smoke, aside from the effect smoking has on the immune system of course.

There are a few things you can do to get your immune system ready to fight this virus, if you haven't done so already. Exercise, vitamins, and some form of stress-relief (I suggest yoga :)

Wesson30 mentioned a VERY good tip to me which is getting a vaccination.

Read through the posts here, hopefully you will find some good tips :)