Katie,
Sometimes there really IS no reason. I never smoked in my life, was a light drinker, and was negative for HPV. I was also very healthy. When I was hospitalized for my surgery they asked me when was the last time I had been hospitalized. I said, "Well, my son is 30 years old..." So, cancer was the first time I had been sick other than routine colds and flu. I go through the same thoughts myself, even now that I am three years out of treatment. My ENT said that it could possibly be some sort of virus, probably one that hadn't even been discovered yet.

Female, nonsmoker, 70, diag. 5/09 after tongue biopsy: stage IV. Left hemi-gloss. and left selec. neck disec. 30 lymph nodes removed May 20. Over 7 weeks daily rads. with three chemo. PEG removed 12/4/09 Am eating mostly soft foods. Back to work 11/09 Retired 4/1/11. 7 clear scans! Port out 9/11. 2/13. It's back: base of tongue, very invasive
surgery involving lifestyle changes. 2/14: Now speaking w/Passey-Muir valve. Considering a swallow study. Grateful to be alive.