Redser, sorry, I am not a youngster either, diagnosed at age 44 with SCC on the left side of my tongue....I had a tooth that always rubbed my tongue right where the sore eventually came, now was the tumor already in the tongue and it caused the rubbing against the tooth? I don't know, I had the tooth filed down, was prescribed several antibiotics, crowned, etc....when the sore did not go away after many, many months of wasted time, I was sent to my oral surgeon, he took one look and knew exactly what it was.
However, I am coming up on my 5th year since diagnosis (May 10th) for which I am grateful, sorry I lost my point, it had been mentioned to me that I did not fit the normal profile for tongue cancer but no one has ever said the tooth caused it, but I wonder? I mean the constant irritation and all, I don't know, just thought I would chime in....Carol

I was diagnosed last May at the age of 32. I do not fit the "normal" profile either, but my doctor said that their is a huge rise in our age group with no apparent risk factors. Just in the time that I was treated, 3 other people my age range were treated by my doctor.

I was pregnant when mine developed, but other than that, my health was normal.

I to was recently diagnosed and do not fit the "normal" profile , I am 35 never smoked , some what of a social drinker ( very infrequent) , never had braces or even a tooth that rub that area . My lesion was on the left side of my tongue. I am going to ask Mon when I see specialist about HPV, I am some what familar with HPV due to working in a female clinic, however all my Pap smears have been normal and I do want the test for HPV 16. Interesting to hear they are saying a rise though, I mean maybe they will find another reason so people can take more precaution. My mother in law thinks maybe becasue I have Tattoos or I had my belly button pierced dont know if any of those would have any effect, I personally dont think so , but I am not a dr

Hi Redser,

Like you, I was just past my 29th birthday when diagnosed. I was stage II and had the neck dissection. I did not have radiation though. Like the rest of you - I also had no risk factors. I did not have braces as a child or before the cancer - but have since started Invisiline adult braces. My dentist (who found it initially) thought that it might be due to chronic tooth irritation - but I don't know. Mine started as a lump inside the muscle of my tongue and opened up into an ulcer at a later time. I, of course, had no idea any of it was cancer - until the dentist saw it.

I smoked and drank (but quit smoking decades ago and quit drinking more than ten years ago) but also had a rough tooth and my benign lesions started in 1990, with my tumor appearing in 2005, even 'tho I occasionally had the tooth smoothed (enough of my tongue in that area is now gone that the tooth is no longer in contact).

I find much credibility in the irritation as contributing factor theories!

HPV is rarely involved in tumors of the outer (oral, or movable) section of the tongue --I recall someone did a study and it was about 2.5%, as opposed to about 40% of base-of-tongue cancers (one recent study found 60%). However I would not be surprsied that chronic irritation or inflammation can be involved. I heard a very interesting paper once by a specialist in the progression of prostate cancer and he showed how chronic infection (such as prostatitis) can induce a cascade of cellular changes that in a percentage of men, ended up as cancer. Not the only cause, of course, but one of them.

Gail

The New York Times has an inte4resting article today about the special challenges facing people under 40 diagnosed with cancer. They didn't mention oral cancer as one of the ones where the rate of young people with a diagnosis is going up but since oral cancer tends to be overlooked a lot I guess I shouldn't be surprised!

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/health/30canc.html?_r=1&8dpc&oref=slogin

These posts certainly make for interesting reading! I imagine there are some other factors involved but irritating teeth is the most logical proposal I have heard yet.

BTW the HBO treatment is going great. After 20 sessions the ulcer on my tongue is slowly starting to heal, pain is lessening (ulcer was aggravating nerves in tongue) and scars on neck are getting softer. Also I believe the cells in my brain are being rejuvenated as I actually managed to complete a soduko puzzle today. Don't laugh, its the first one I have finished in three weeks! However I am still waiting for the beautiful freckle free complexion (I am sure I heard somewhere that oxygen is the latest beauty treatment). I will keep you posted.... ;-)

I was diagnosed last year at 38 years old (sorry, I'm pushing the upper limits of 'youngster'). I was in otherwise good health. I had none of the historical risk factors - family history, no smoking, no chewing, etc. Every time I see my medical oncologist he still jokingly asks me, "Are you sure you didn't use tobacco? Maybe you've just forgotten". I guess he hasn't seen many cases without the risk factors.

Oral cancer doesn't seem to have much sympathy for your age or even how you've lived your life - it can strike no matter how healthy you've otherwise been.

My treatment story was pretty much like many others...Cisplatin x 3 and IMRT x 35. Very difficult journey, and still not over as I'm concerned about a potential recurrence given some sypmtoms at the moment.

If there is a positive side, it's that as a young person I think you're physically better able to tolerate the treatment than somebody who is not so young and strong.
-Steve

Dear Steve,

I am sorry to hear that you suspect a recurrence. How disturbing that must be, considering all that you have already gone through. I will keep you in my prayers. I hope you are wrong about this! Please let us know.