Hi Brian- My husband- (names Brian) dipped for years as did his brother and 2 friends still do. Ironically I got tongue cancer this year and I don't even smoke. Yes your changes do increase if you dip but its really a crap shoot who gets it and who doesn't. I think I got mine from having either trauma to my tongue through dentristry (braces zrays etc)and the cells just multiplied when they grew back. That is all I can figure- because the Dr. said it couldnt' be from the few brief years I smoked in college.

I now it is a difficult habit to quit- but you really will decrease your chances of getting this disease. It is no fun at all.

I had most of my entire tongue tongue removed Mar 2nd . My tumor wasn't that big but it was growing accross the back of my tongue - so they had to take most of it. My life is changed forever. sPeaking drinking and eating will never ever be the same for me. I plan to not let these siabilities hold me back as much as possible but I sure I will have lots of stress and duress without them.

So think of me. I'd love to just be able to speak eat and drink as effortlessly as I did before-- I dream of it and I am really sad that I lost my tongue to this disease. It totally sucks and I didn't deserve it -- no one does-- not even someone who dips... but it is especially tragic if you didn't smoke or dip.

You owe it to yourself to quit. Go to your GP and they can prescribe you different drugs that will curb your nicotine addiction-- which is a very real physical addiction. Also accupuncture and hypnotherapy are also other effective options. Just monitor anything weird you see in your mouth and demand it be biopsied right away. I approached my GP about the sore on my tongue back in November-- She thought it was viral and related to a cold and gave me steroid cream and antibiotics. I wnet back to her again for similar symptoms and no referral again.. Had she correctly diagnosed me or referred me if she didn't know what it was for sure- then instead of me having to wait 3 months and finally just go to another GP and get a ENT refferal- I would probably still have at least some of my tongue left and my quality of life would be so much better. My tumor although it started out small was pretty aggressive. 2 months was all it took for it to grow to 4cm and by then it was too late to save my tongue.

Anyways-- don't beat yourself up too much but just know that you are in a high risk category and keep a close watch on anything funny you see in your mouth and be diligent about getting it checked out.

Early detection is the key and you sound like you are on the watch so you should be fine!

Best of Luck to ya!