Thanks mike , David and everyone else - I know with so many people suffering it's hard to wait your turn -but with everyday that passes there is the possibility that it can grow and spread - so I am pushing - asking to be on waiting lists and cancellation lists...

I have been lucky. I only had moderate dysplasia, but I go for checkups every 6 months. When the biopsy came back showing dysplasia I insisted they cut out more to make sure the margins were clear. That was in November 2007.

That's probably what I should have done two years ago - has the ENT guy who saw me suggested it or even told me what it was instead of allowing me to think it might be allergy related - but hindsight is 20/20...

I am so sorry. They tried to tell me not to bother removing the rest, but I persisted. What did they say you were allergic to? I have also increased my antioxidant intake, as in vitamin B,C and D, to try to prevent progression.I am curious about precipitating causes, by any chance did you bite that area, or did you take any fertility meds? Mine happened just after my pregnancy, and I wonder if that had any bearing on it. Also, did you get the MRI this week?

Yes I had my MRI last wed. Specialist this week - the fist ENT guy said it was inflamed tissue and nothing more. My family dr sent me to an allergist - and said maybe it's related to my cap.. I had the dentist file down the cap - but it stll continued - a few months ago I went back to the dr. After the allergy testing named the stuff I was allergic to - and I gave up most of it and the problem didn't get better - ( I am allergic to - garlic, milk, pepper, mustard, mixed flour and chocolate (sniff!) ) frankly it was hard to give up the flour products and garlic since most restaurants use all that stuff and I eat out a few times a week - and I am a vegetarian already so that means there is very little left that I can eat - but I did what I could at home. Anyway this time he sent me to another ENT guy - he said it was lichen planus - but wanted a biopsy for the area that looked bad. That's when I got the cancer diagnosis - I read up on lichen planus is sounds very much like what I have - and I know it"s hotly debated but some dr.s believe untreated lichen planus can become cancerous - ( frankly it makes sense - long term cell dysplasia can progress into a cancerous state ) had I been told that it was lichen planus 2 years ago then I would have seen someone who deals with it and likely wouldn't be in this position. They say it's prevalent in women 35-45 and they don't know a cause. To answer - no I didn't bite it - and I had my children very young - so thankfully the are older now - it wasn't a post pregnancy thing - and no I have never used fertility meds. I am hoping the dr. will remove not only the tumor but the rest of the dysplasia. And I would hope I will be treated for the lichen planus post op/ treatment. Just to be on the safe side. Did your Dr. ever mention lichen planus to you? There is someone here in Toronto who deals specifically with it. Bottommline having the area removed is a good idea - and keeping a close eye on it is very smart.

Hi I sent you a PM. I hope you don't mind...

Not at all... I replied.

biopsy taken dec 2nd, diagnosed dec 12th surgery jan 12th ( would have been sooner but for seasonal holidays etc )radiation started feb 20th approx

I was diagnosed, had all the scans and then booked in for surgery all in the space of 3 weeks
Hospital paper work said I was an "urgent" case
Public healthcare system all free in Australia- I didn't wait or pay for anything.

3 weeks is about the same thing as here. We too have free health care etc.. Tomorrow I will get my surgery date. Yay!!! - okay not so much but I want it out! thanks for all the replies!