I know I've said this before but I'll say it again. To me the risk of drinking is just not worth it.

Hugs. I answered your PM my dear.

Hi AK,

Generally I side with a few drinks now and then do no harm for the over the hill gang who are HPV+ with no history of smoking or drinking excess.

Knowing what I know now, if I was 22 and had oral cancer I would be wary of any alcohol. Being so young it is hard to know if his body is predisposed to alcohol being a trigger for cancer. If the cancer is HPV+ it might be a bit easier to think alcohol is not involved but he has a long life ahead of him so why not be on safe side.

In my case, at 58, having zero abuse of smoke or drink, being HPV+, and drink in moderation for a long time, I am at ease having a few beers here and there. Given HPV+
SCC is viruse based, I believe my profile does not fit one that has oral cancer linked to moderate alcohol use.

Hey everyone,
My brother just had surgery. His CT scan results were negative for lymph nodes. We are going to wait on the pathology report to know mlre about the situation.

Want to know the craziest thing about all of this I just asked the doctor was it from smoking? Alcohol? And he said no your brother was just picked randomly. He is negative for HPV too. So literally he was just picked randomly! Was anyone here picked randomly?

Great news on the nodes being clear. Means a lower stage and less harsh treatment plan.

[quote]Was anyone here picked randomly?[/quote]Basically, he is saying he does not know where it came from or how he got it.

Other than those who had a history of much drinking and smoking and have SCC HPV-, much of it is "random". This just means they do not know all the factors that trigger cancers.

Even HPV+ is the known source of this cancer but why do only a very small percentage that get it do not pass it without it turning into cancer?

There are many members who are HPV- and have never used tobacco but have ended up with oral cancer. Sorry your brother is part of our group who have no known cause.

Yup, it happens. My mom was 74 at diagnosis so it isn't quite the same situation but she never smoked ever. She drank socially no more than a glass of wine at dinner. It happens.

Good news on the nodes!

I have a question for everyone. My brother did his surgery to remove some
Of his tongue and it was orignanally scheduled to be an outpatient surgery but he was in too much pain. They kept him overnight. Did anyone do outpatient or in patient? It's crazy to me that they wojld send him home after removing some of his tongue and expect him to take norco/Tylenol?

No two surgeries are the same ak. I am sure it would depend on how much tissue they had to remove and where it was. They can send you home with stuff much stronger than Tylenol.

AK,

I'm glad your brother is done with his surgery and his CT scan was negative for the lymph nodes - that is good news!

In answer to some of your questions, I and most of the people I have personally met with oral cancer (over 30 since 2005) fall into the non-smoking, no risk factor group - the "random" unlucky group! If you read the stats on the OCF website, this group is only 7%. Smoking, alcohol and HPV are the leading causes.

[quote] A small percentage of people (under 7 %) do get oral cancers from no currently identified cause. It is currently believed that these are likely related to some genetic predisposition.[/quote]

Its been suggested to me that it could be from some irritant in my mouth (a rough tooth), but for me that is not the case. Genetics (again, no family history) or another, unknown virus were also given as a possible reason. I've researched this topic a number of times, and the best of the best haven't come up with a reason yet for those with no risk factors who develop oral cancer - other than unlucky!

Since I've had a recurrence (same location), "why" I got it twice (plus dysplasia once) does give me concern. Since some of my surgeries were at Johns Hopkins, I have participated in some of their studies trying to find a reason, so I hope some day an answer is found.

I've had four surgeries - two were done as outpatient and two I spent one night in the hospital. The first surgery I was sent home with liquid prescription pain medicine which took me over 20 minutes to swallow since my tongue was very swollen and painful. I felt that I should have been kept overnight because of the pain and the swelling I had, so when I needed surgery #2 and #3 I insisted to be kept overnight. The last surgery I had they were not sure how much tissue would need to be removed. I was prepared to stay overnight, but fortunately they didn't need to remove that much and I went home.

My brother was negative for spreading to the lymph nodes in his CT scan and he was negative in the pathology report. We just met with the doctor and the doctor said "we removed the tumor bht it is going deep so myself and a couple doctors say we should do a neck dissection to remove about 28 lymp nodes and 4 weeks later we will do implant radiation."
Doctor wanted this Monday but my brother wanted a break so he will do two weeks from now July 14. (Doctor said actually that is a good idea for you to get a break) and then a month from now he will do radiation. What do you all think of this friends? He just wants to take an aggressive approach do it doesn't recour.