Welcome to OCF! Im sorry you have a need for our group but Im glad you have found us so we can assist you.

One of the best things about OCF is you are anonymous. The info you post or include in your registration does not have to identify you. By posting here on the forum, anonymously your identity is protected. You are very smart to see the whole picture and not share your diagnosis on social media. Once something is put out on social media, its next to impossible to retract it. You are correct in saying this info could affect your ability to land a permanent job. Employers do not always support cancer patients.

One thing I noticed is you went from the oral surgeon to an ENT, but I wasnt sure if the ENT was at a different facility. Surgeons cut and will nearly always advise surgery as the best option. Once its been removed, that area can never return to a 100% of its original functionality. I suggest you seek out a second opinion preferably at a comprehensive cancer center (CCC). At a CCC they use a team based approach so all professionals are on the same page with making the treatment plans.

At this time, more is unknown about HPV than is known. As far as I know, its still not known if casual contact is able to transmit HPV. More is being discovered about HPV all the time. Since it has not been proven 100% yet about HPV being passed thru casual contact I recommend your biopsy still get tested for HPV and then a treatment plan. HPV rarely is located in the sides of the tongue which is why your physician may have said its unlikely your cancer was caused by HPV.

There are quite a few OC patients/survivors I know who have no known cause for getting OC. It could be a million and one minor things that caused the OC, including your unique bodys chemistry. Regardless of why you have this, it still must be taken care of. I suggest still getting that second opinion first.


Best wishes with everything!



NCI Cancer Centers

OCF main site --- DIAGNOSIS

OCF main site --- TREATMENT