I am about to hit my 1 year anniversary post surgery. I am concerned about recurrence so am doing some reading on the forum. I know this post is several years old but just have to comment. I totally understand the smoking thing. I quit 4 years before my DX. Thought I would never suffer from my 20 year habit. Doctors won't say my smoking caused my cancer...but I believe it did. But even that does not stop the desire to smoke for me. My hubby still smokes....he has tried to stop but hasn't conquered the monster. I vape now instead of smoke....but only in the evenings after work. The smoking demon is a tough adversary. I hate to say that....but even after the hell I have been through...there is not a day that goes by that I don't want it.....just being real.


48 yo female, quit smoking 4yrs ago, light drinker, Stage 2 SCC, Bx3, Dx 8/22/13, surgery 9/11/13. Partial glossectomy, bilateral neck dissection levels 1-4. Tongue reconstruction with flap from forearm. 87 Lymph nodes CLEAR. Tongue margins good at 1 cm. No further treatment planned. Monthly monitoring planned for upcoming year then periodic monitoring for next 4