Diagnosed with HPV: Managing treatment, support and cancer risks

“Sometimes I have women who come in and they say, ‘I should have had the Pap or should have done this,’” Han says of the guilt some patients carry and the stigma surrounding HPV. “We provide all the support and I tell them, don’t think about what if, or you should have done this or that. Let’s focus on now and how we can get you through treatment and hopefully get rid of this cancer permanently.”

Find support after an HPV diagnosis

Talking openly about HPV can be hard. In her book Strange Bedfellows, physician Ina Park of the University of California, San Francisco, looks at the long history of sexually transmitted infections, or STIs, and why people are reluctant to discuss them. She writes, “Despite all the science to the contrary, people still see STIs as a punishment for being promiscuous – a kind of ‘mark of sin.’ The language we use to talk about STIs reflects that – saying someone is ‘clean’ implies the opposite is ‘dirty.’”

What’s a more appropriate attitude toward HPV and other STIs? According to Park, there’s “a fine line between ‘This happens to everyone, so we shouldn’t feel ashamed’ vs. ‘This happens to everyone, so we shouldn’t care.’ The middle ground is yes, this happens, but the consequences of not treating it can be serious. Get tested and take charge of your health, but don’t shame each other.”

There are growing support groups and advocacy for people with HPV, so connecting to find referrals to sexual health clinics and services is possible and recommended. Don’t go it alone! For example,

Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights

has a free access line to call: 1-888-642-2725 to link you to local support services and provide information. A team member can also direct you to sexual health clinics throughout provinces and territories across Canada for confidential testing, counselling and treatment. Clinic professionals can also help you navigate the healthcare system.