Men, Cancer & HPV Initiative

• June 2025

In 2014, at the age of 44, I felt a bump on the right side of my neck that appeared out of nowhere. I felt the healthiest I had felt in years, but this bump truly concerned me. My father who is physician referred me to an ear, nose and throat doctor, who initially put me on ten days of antibiotics and steroid although nothing changed. I ended up having a needle biopsy and CT Scan, which led to the diagnosis of stage IV HPV related tonsil cancer.

As a husband, father of three, and business owner, the thought of dying, and leaving my family behind was terrifying. I ended up having a radical tonsillectomy, neck dissection (42 lymph nodes removed from the neck) followed by seven weeks of chemo, radiation and a feeding tube. Shortly after beginning treatment, I made videos to my three kids saying goodbye. Those videos went something like this, “one day you are going to get married, I am not going to be there, this is what’s important…” I made those videos over and over again, knowing that if they were the last things my kids ever heard from me, I wanted them to be perfect.

My cancer journey was painful and exhausting. I ended up with third degree burns and open sores in my mouth and throat with saliva so thick I couldn’t swallow it. I was gagging and choking 40-60 times a day, and in bed approximately 18 hours a day for a few months. I had radiation five days a week for seven week, and after radiation on Thursdays, I had chemo which took around six hours. I was truly exhausted, weak and in a lot of pain. I got through it all, knowing that what I was going through was All Temporary. I had tremendous support of family, friends and my medical team. I rang the bell, finishing treatment on August 11, 2014.

Being given a second chance at life inspired me to dedicate myself to advocacy. I founded SupermanHPV, because my friends called me Superman during chemo and, stating that I was tough like him. A few years after beating cancer, I launched SupermanHPV.com to provide inspiration and information for those diagnosed and/or researching HPV, the HPV vaccine and HPV related cancers. My goal is to have my cancer story shared in as many languages as possible, on all seven continents to save lives worldwide. I’ve shared my story across the United States and internationally in Ireland, Scotland and I am headed to Bangkok this year to educate parents, patients, and communities about the importance of the HPV vaccine. My mission is to eliminate the stigma surrounding HPV, encourage early detection, and ensure that generations of boys and girls are protected from HPV preventable cancers through advocating for gender neutral vaccination.

Through my advocacy, I’ve had the privilege to work with leading health organizations, lawmakers, and survivors worldwide. Each time I share my journey, my hope is that someone will feel less alone, and that parents will speak with their children’s pediatrician about the HPV vaccine.

If I could share advice with others, it would be this: if you have a bump on your neck that appears out of nowhere, or a sore in your mouth that is not healing or an uncomfortable feeling in your throat that persists, go see your ear, nose and throat doctor. Do not put it off.

Lastly, we can truly protect millions of boys and girls from HPV preventable cancers through increasing gender neutral HPV vaccination rates. As parents, I believe protecting our children is our main responsibility – please speak with your children’s pediatrician about the HPV vaccine.

I woke up in pain and a lump in my anus was present. Something was not right.

After six months and doctor appointments hearing the  ‘I have no idea what “it” is,  you’ll have to see someone else’, I found out about the cancer.  “It” turned out to be a sizeable tumour. Up until then I had NO symptoms. 

After an exam, the surgeon announced it as “metastatic cancer”. I had to ask them to repeat the statement.  I now know that metastatic cancer, also known as secondary cancer, is cancer that spreads from its original site to other parts of the body. Biopsy surgery, scans, tests and labs diagnosed HPV Anal Cancer stage III.   

As a queer, active, sober, HIV-negative man I was unaware of  HPV. I was shocked, as I was diligent about my healthcare and STI testing.  I knew nothing about Anal Pap Smears: a test which diagnoses the silent virus HPV and strains causing cancer.  

The cancer journey started. Some days I felt I was in a medical blender with a turbo cycle. Self-advocacy, humour (no matter how dark)  and having hope is intrinsic to healing.  

Ask questions about physical, mental, and sexual health during and post treatment. Spiritual guidance can help. Financial discussions too. Requesting an Oncology Social Worker was a game changer.

It was suggested I ask for help, take notes, have someone with me at appointments and do not hesitate to ask questions regardless of how “stupid” I thought they were.  I asked many questions – 12-pages worth to be exact – and still there are more now that I have lived experience. When I didn’t feel comfortable with a provider or their suggestions I requested a second opinion. I researched and chose the Nigro Protocol (a first-line treatment for anal cancer that combines radiotherapy and chemotherapy). Integrative medicines complemented treatments also.  

Today, I am NED (which stands for ‘no evidence of disease’) and am adjusting to my “new normal.”  Continued positive self-talk, fitness, nutrition and far fewer doctor appointments along with going back to work and resting when tired are the prescription.  

My journey into the cancer world was fast-paced. I feel it is important I share my experiences, given the “each one teaches one” mantra. I am now a certified Community Health Worker. 

Butt (did you like that?) please get a checkup. And if offered, choose HPV Vaccination. 

Remember that YOU ARE NOT ALONE and together we can save lives. I owe a debt of gratitude to my friends and the oncology and medical teams.

Samuel Ziwada, who lives in South Africa, shares his experience of becoming a widower following his wife’s death from cervical cancer caused by HPV.