You would think that having oral cancer would be enough of a motivator to stop smoking and drinking, but it sure wasn't for me. Even after the floor of my mouth was removed and I was left without any bottom teeth, I went back to smoking and drinking. Hmmmmm, I wonder if we have a death wish. I make my living (dispatcher) with my speech and after they cut out not only the floor of my mouth but some under my tongue, I was left with a speech defect and severe dry mouth. I went through 16 hours of surgery, 12 days in intensive care and 6 months of daily radiation. Yet, one day, I smoked one cigarette. Stupid, crazy, insane ? Yes.