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Human papilloma virus (HPV)

 

Does having HPV mean that I will get cancer?

 

The vast majority of people with HPV will never get cancer of any kind. For those who will develop cancer from HPV, the process is very slow. In most people it takes 15-20 years or more from the time that someone gets HPV until they develop cancer. This long period of time gives us many opportunities to discover precancer and treat it before it becomes cancer.