On the other hand, it seems obvious you are more worried (even obsessed) with HPV and your past warts than is warranted. I reviewed your other three discussions with Dr. Hook and agree with all he said. However, he didn't happen to point out that having genital HPV is a normal, expected consequence of having sex. At least 90% of all people have sexually acquired HPV at one time or another; most of us have more than one HPV infection during our lives. Happily, the large majority of infections cause no disease at all, and the most common consequence is genital warts and, in women, abnormal Pap smears that do not progress to cancer. The most important step one can take in prevention of these undesirable outcomes is immunization, which you have done. As a result, you have markedly reduced your risk of any further serious outcomes.

As for penile cancer, it is extremely rare. You can look at the statistics yourself (for this or any other cancer) at the American Cancer Society website (www.cancer.org). It shows that in the US, there are about 2,000 cases per year. Most but not all cases are caused by HPV -- usually type 16 or 18, which are 100% preventable by immunization, so the risk obviously is a whole lot lower in men who have been vaccinated. Since 90% of all males have had HPV (somewhere around 150 million men in the US), the risk of penile cancer in any particular person, even those with HPV, obviously is exceedingly low (and still lower in those who have had the vaccine, or who were vaccinated after being infected with HPV 16/18). In other words, the chance you'll have it is nearly zero. (According to another website, the National Safety Council, this risk is lower than the annual chance of being killed by lightning.)

Finally, penile cancer is not especially dangerous. The first sign is typically a penile sore that doesn't heal, or a wart-like growth that doesn't respond well to standard treatment. At that point, penile cancer is easily cured with minor surgery to remove the lesion, or with a chemotherapy cream, not even requiring surgery. It's only when neglected for several years that a point may be reached where cure requires major surgery like penile amputation, or that can be fatal.

In other words, this is not something for you to be at all worried about. I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

I do apologize for the new question. You are correct, I was worried about penile cancer, but it sounds like the possibility of that happening is close to zero. I also read that the HPV types that cause cancer don’t cause warts, so if I had Genital warts, I shouldn’t be worried so much about cancer. I was uninformed, but you’ve put me at peace. I greatly appreciate you and Dr. Hook taking your time to put things into perspective when it sometimes feels like an impossible task online. 

For the first time in a while, I think I’ll sleep soundly tonight. Thank you both so much.