Looks like others have been prompt to reply so I will only add a little about etiology.

While everyone thinks of the three main causes of these cancers, tobacco, alcohol, HPV, they often leave one out that causes about 10% of anterior of the mouth cancers, particularly on the mobile tongue. That is etiology is unknown, but most likely a genetic frailty that predisposes individuals to these cancers. There doesn’t seem to be any shared lifestyle risk factor in people that get these which can be identified as of yet. They occur most of the time in women, and in pathology show none of the indicators/markers of the other causes. They unfortunately are a recurring cancer more than other causes. So it is very important to stay vigilant into the future and get regular screening to catch anything at the earliest possible moment. It is relatively uncommon to have hpv16 cancers occur in the anterior of the mouth. They favor the tonsils and base of tongue.

While it is a good idea for all of us, and even the general population to self screen at home, which is not difficult, you need a simple intra oral light source to do this effectively. Please check out the website www.checkyourmouth.org where there is a short video on how to do this. B