I am not sure if I fit the requirements here, I have not been diagnosed with oral cancer, but have had a few scares. I am 28, and have been using smokeless tobacco off and on since I was 18. I guess you could say I am an idiot, I knew the risks of using, I have seen the pictures. I have even had 2 biopsies performed; 1 on the outside of my lip, a small white spot when I was 22, and 1 underneath my tongue when I was 25. The first was, I guess, leukoplakia, it has never been back, the dr. that cut it out said it was most likely caused from sun exposure. At the time, I had just started dipping (3 months prior) again after a 3 year layoff. This prompted another 2 1/2- 3 year quit, followed by a 6 month stupidity run, and my 2nd biopsy, under my tongue. The dentist I went to in Albuquerque, took a brush biopsy, came back atypical, went to an oral surgeon, who said it was an inflamed salivary gland. This prompted a 1 year or so quit. And stupidity won out again. I have been using for the past 2 1/2 years. I have decided to quit again, hoping it to be my last. I have found a white spot on my gums, my upper gums, I have only put the tobacco there a couple of times, maybe 5 or 6 times total, but know that that does not matter. I am also keeping my cool about this scare. I have read up on the odds, realize I am more at risk than a non-user, but also that most things that pop up in your mouth turn out to be nothing. I was eating some tortilla chips last night, maybe I scraped my gums? I have made an appointment for this Wednesday to see my dentist, he is oral cancer specialist here in Odessa, TX. Anyway, I would like to thank everyone on this board for sharing your stories and your scares, this is a tremendous site. I hope I put this in the right post, if not I apologize.

Ben