[Question #1386] Hpv transmitted to nose

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96 months ago
I am 50 yes old just diagnosed w cin 1 + e6/e7 I have OCD of health issues afraid I have cancer scared that maybe multiple times I touched myself as I have sebaceous cysts in vulva and rushed didn't wash hands properly or maybe not at all  then could have touched eye or due to allergies touched inside of nose  (although I usually am a finatic about cleanliness ). How likely I can get cancer of nose from doing this multiple times am I a sitting duck?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
96 months ago
I would not worry about having transmitted cancer or HPV to other parts of your body through touching your genitals and then your face.  Several reasons for this:
1.  Transfer on hands is mechanically inefficient and almost never occurs.
2.  The HPV viruses that infect the genitals do not "like" other types of skin and cause infection on skin like that of the face.
3.  Once the virus has "transformed" cells to become CIN they are no longer infectious in the same manner that the viruses are.

Bottom line,this is not something to worry about. No need for testing or concern.

(Sorry for the abrupt response, about to take off in a plane and I wanted to reply to you in a timely flashing.  EWH
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96 months ago
Thank you for reply so quickly !  I am talking inside nose not skin of face I mean like mucus membrane.  I have been in tears thinking I am waiting for cancer in nose to just appear and the touching from hand to inside of nose could have been prior to cin 1.  Also concerned as I have been married 22 years faithful and have asked every Pap for hpv DNA and it's been negative  until this year so does that mean I am newly infected ?
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Edward W. Hook M.D.
96 months ago

Understood.  The nasal (and conjunctiva) epithelium ids different. The sort of transmission you have suggested has not been described.  Please do not worry.

With regard to your new found CIN, it could have been missed in the past or be a new infection. there remains much about HPV that is still not well understood.  I urge you not to beat yourself (or your partner) up about this but to appreciate that since it was found and is an early stage, it can be observed, managed and if need be treated.  This is all good.  EWH

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