I'm working on a tool that queries a database based on user input, where this user input is a text parameter.  The wildcard for the database is the percent (%) character.  The user input, which is ultimately translated into the query, should be able to contain a % character.  For example, one input field lets the user indicate which cancer cohort he or she is interested in, in a table of available cohorts, and the user should be able to give input like 'TCGA%" to indicate all TCGA cohorts.  

The problem I'm having is that when % is given in the input field, it's translated (to X) by the time it reaches my tool's python script.  I haven't been able to figure out the right way to escape the input so that % is not translated.

So, how do I escape this?

Thanks!

Melissa