MarkT, I too am waiting for a biopsy and am unsure of what my problem is. I have an ulcer in the back of my throat that's been there for about six months. I've seen about five different doctors for it, my dentist two times and an oral surgeon. the first time I saw my dentist he must have pretended to see it as he said "ah, yes, I see it is a little red, but it doesn't look at all like my dads oral cancer did".....when in fact, it is white and erroded looking. Finally, five months later (and five doctors later) I went back to him again and he did see it this time. Because it's hidden in a fold he couldn't the first time. He said "probably nothing serious, BUT....if it is cancer, best to catch it early".....I was furious. I was wondering and just what in the hell is early, seeing that I tried to get you to see this five months ago? So, here I sit, waiting til next week to have a biopsy taken of it. I looked at the pictures online of oral cancer too, which I really wish I hadn't of done now, as a few of them look just like mine too....but from coming into this forum I've had some of the people tell me that there are so many other things that it could be. I don't know how much of these topics you've read, but these people are real survivors, some of them have made it past the five year mark you mentioned, and I'm sure a lot of them that haven't yet, will. Some of them have helped me more then they'll ever know just by sending info and being upbeat and reminding me not to get ahead of myself and to wait and see before I freak out. I do hope you're tests come back okay. Shelley