AK,

I'm glad your brother is done with his surgery and his CT scan was negative for the lymph nodes - that is good news!

In answer to some of your questions, I and most of the people I have personally met with oral cancer (over 30 since 2005) fall into the non-smoking, no risk factor group - the "random" unlucky group! If you read the stats on the OCF website, this group is only 7%. Smoking, alcohol and HPV are the leading causes.

[quote] A small percentage of people (under 7 %) do get oral cancers from no currently identified cause. It is currently believed that these are likely related to some genetic predisposition.[/quote]

Its been suggested to me that it could be from some irritant in my mouth (a rough tooth), but for me that is not the case. Genetics (again, no family history) or another, unknown virus were also given as a possible reason. I've researched this topic a number of times, and the best of the best haven't come up with a reason yet for those with no risk factors who develop oral cancer - other than unlucky!

Since I've had a recurrence (same location), "why" I got it twice (plus dysplasia once) does give me concern. Since some of my surgeries were at Johns Hopkins, I have participated in some of their studies trying to find a reason, so I hope some day an answer is found.

I've had four surgeries - two were done as outpatient and two I spent one night in the hospital. The first surgery I was sent home with liquid prescription pain medicine which took me over 20 minutes to swallow since my tongue was very swollen and painful. I felt that I should have been kept overnight because of the pain and the swelling I had, so when I needed surgery #2 and #3 I insisted to be kept overnight. The last surgery I had they were not sure how much tissue would need to be removed. I was prepared to stay overnight, but fortunately they didn't need to remove that much and I went home.