Barb,
Here's my husband's story. Noticed lump on neck November 2002. Dentist thought it could be due to infected tooth and put him on antibiotics. No change so he went to our GP who thought it could be "cat scratch infection" (husband had no risk factors for oral cancer) and put him on different antibiotics. In December, he went to surgeon who biopsied lump and did CT scan. Biopsy came back negative and scan showed nothing but lump. Surgeon decided it was a branchial cyst - nothing to worry about but should be removed "within a month or two." Then I got on the internet to research branchial cysts and found, among other things, info that in people over 40, 80% of neck masses are cancer. I insisted he have lump removed immediately. Before surgery, that surgeon said he was sure it was nothing. An hour later he was telling me it was metastatic SCC. Neck dissection and tonsils out in January (primary was found in tonsil during surgery pathology). Radiation with chemo February and March.

I've heard from other patients that the dentist tells people that he was the one that discovered the cancer. Selective memory, I guess.

Anita