Although I am a non-smoker (never smoked), my oral cancer began with leukoplakia. I had just one small white spot on my upper gum which my dentist diligently followed for 9 years before it actually progressed to dysplasia and then diagnosed as a squamous cell carcinoma. Vikas, please start with your dentist and he/she can do an oral cancer screening with a brush biopsy which is not invasive. Even if it if that comes back negative, they can follow you closely and order a biopsy if that should ever be necessary.


Teacher Karen
DX: SCC of right maxillary alveolar ridge, 9/2010.
Surgery 11/2010, removal of 4 teeth and gum.
Surgery 11/2012, removal of 3 teeth and gum.
IMRT 1/2013-2/2013
Surgery 1/2015 retromolar trigone resection; removal of 1 tooth and gum.
Surgery 10/2015 left modified radical neck dissection, inferior parotidectomy, external carotid artery resection.
Cetuximab based chemoradiation 64.8 Gy to resection bed.
Surgery 6/19/2018 Right inferior maxillectomy, bilateral low palate resection