Hi Jane,

I am 35 as well and just got diagnosed with tongue cancer. At first, my dentist gave me a "wait and see" approach, but after the legion kept getting larger and more painful, I bit the bullet and got a biopsy done. It was out of network and I had run out of insurance for the year (this was just last December), but I believe it was less than $200. It was worth it as it did turn out to be cancerous. I don't mean to scare you, but mine started out so innocently (a sore tongue from a rough tooth) and then seemed like it turned cancerous overnight!

If it is cancerous, you have SUCH a better prognosis with early detection. And if it's not, at least you will have peace of mind. I was advised to wait another week until my insurance for 2013 kicked in and I refused. And, it's a good thing I did.

Now, I do have a history of smoking. I quit cold turkey as soon as I got the biopsy results. I am also HPV+ so that's another risk factor. But after reading the boards and other stories, it can happen to anyone, non-smokers, never used alcohol, HPV-, health nuts, etc., even at our relatively young age. Please take everyone's advice on here and at least get a biopsy done. It will cost you so much more in the long run if it is caught late and you need radiation, chemo, etc. If caught early it can be surgically removed in a lot of cases without going down the radiation/chemo route.

You have to put your life first, so please do get tested and keep us all posted!

Gina