I'm 53 and have never smoked. Enjoyed an occasional glass of wine with dinner until 2006 when I had my first biopsy of leukoplakia on lateral right tongue. Not all leukoplakia removed and the following year the smaller bit left behind had enlarged. Neither biopsy was malignant. Began to get occasional mouth ulcers on the right side of mouth, under tongue and on floor on right side. June 2010 had a large outbreak. Dental surgeon gave me a salve which calmed things down but by September I developed a small lesion floor of mouth at site of one of the ulcers. This was an at least moderately invasive SCC. The margins were not clear with carcinma in situ extending beyond several. PET scan showed no metastasis. Second excision by ENT in October 2010. Margins clear.
Desiring to be proactive my ENT referred me to a head/neck oncologist at MUSC in Charleston. They are now recommending a 3rd excision. I was feeling rather fortunate to have come away with an early diagnosis, minimal speech or eating impairment and am now feeling a little scared.
I know many of you have had a much harder time and I apologize for complaining