Brian, I agree with your scientific approach and have great respect for the principles of the forum. My problem is that I have never had a good scientific explanation of the connection between lichen planus and SCC. Like Linda I had the allergy patch test performed in a large hospital by a dermatologist and was told that the smoking gun was amalgam.

It has been suggested to me by an oral medicine specialist that my so-called lichen planus might not have been something else - something potentially cancerous. The lack of any sort of definitive explanation means that half formed ideas float around in my mind.

I know that cancer is complex and not cut and dried and you are right to keep a tight lid on conspiracy theories and unproven alternative remedies. I'm usually a fully fledged sceptic but when your life is on the line and amalgam and lichen planus are linked in some people and LP and SCC in a small percentage too, it is not totally irrational to see the three things as linked. In layman's terms anyway.

The work you do is absolutely fantastic and much appreciated.

Maureen J