I think because people have never heard much about the oral cancers, they don't think it's all that much. When I was 1st diagnosed I was telling some of my closer friends at work, giving them the facts before the rumors got started. One woman with whom I've worked 17 years, been on bowling teams with and all, asked "well, is that really serious. I mean, it's not something you can die from or anything like that, is it?". But then, really, how bad does tonsil cancer sound?

David R. 65 yr old male non-smoker, light drinker, stage 3 or 4, depending on which doc you ask, scc rt. tonsil, 2 nodes, 7 weeks radiation and chemo. No surgery. Teatment ended 3/20/08. PET scan 8/08 showed no cancer.
And now, as of oct, 2010, caregiver to wife, Linda, with breast cancer.
May, 2013, Linda diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Enuf already.