Linda, you have given me food for thought. However, isn't the mercury in amalgam meant to combine with the other minerals and thus become inactive?????

I know that a small number of patients recover from lichen planus after having their amalgam fillings removed. (I didn't but it stands to reason that some patients with chronic ulcerated lichen planus like me who showed an allergy to amalgam might possibly have had the cells in their tongue irritated to such a degree that they became abnormal????)

I have a crown near the cancer site too. It's the only metal I can see now on that side of the mouth. I think I showed a mild reaction to nickel. My patch test was ages ago now.

Next time I have a check up I'll ask my doctor what he thinks of my lichen planus background - he's a surgeon so won't be all that interested but I'll see if he can point me to material that can help me find out.