When I developed a painful canker sore on my tongue in 2005, all the research I did said that OC usually occurred in an older male, who drank and smoked. So when I went to my primary care doctor about the canker sore, he said it wasn't likely cancer because "I didn't fit the profile" and it didn't look like OC. Likewise, when I went to the oral surgeon, he also said the same thing, but did a biopsy anyway. Surprise it was cancer!

Unfortunately there are a lot of non-smokers who develop OC Why? Not sure! HPV is one cause, but that does not account for all cause of OC in non-smokers. I was one of them. I've been a member of this "OC club" since 2005 and have meet many OC patients, and many are young, female, non-smokers and non-HPV.

I know this is a very scary time for you and I don't want to add to your anxiety, but it is better to be prepared when you go to the ENT to make sure he/she does not take your concerns lightly.

I would make sure that they test the biopsy sample for HPV. It should now be a standard test for all oral cavity biopsies, but I believe it has to be requested by the ENT. If you've done some research on HPV and OC, you will probably have read that HPV caused OC responds better to treatment.

You've received a lot a great advice so far and again I truly hope that you do not join our group.