My Dad's first symptoms were pain. He had his teeth cleaned and then the pain started. Initially he thought that the dentist had knocked some bacteria loose when he had his teeth cleaned and it had resulted in an infection. For three months he went to the dentist every two weeks, complaining of the increasing pain. The pain was also in the area where his partial plate touched. The dentist started cutting the plate down and even suggested that he not wear it until his mouth was better. Finally, a red, blistery rash appeared in his mouth. On that visit the dentist called an oral surgeon and dad left the dentists office and went straight way to the oral surgeons office and had a biopsy. The rest is history.


CG to Father, 75 yo with SCC of the mouth; upper maxillectomy and neck diss. performed on 5/23/07. Father also suffered heart attack during surgery and now has CHF. RT complete on 8/28/07. Cancer back 11/27/07. RT and Chemo to start on 12/17. Cancer back 6/17/08. Finally at rest 08/08/08.