Mark, I have wondered so many times why this cancer seems to be invisible until you get it or know someone who has it...then you start noticing folks, like you did, with the tell-tale signs.

This really lights a fire under me. mad I mean, I'm a fairly intelligent person; I pay attention to things; I am aware of medical and scientific news as much as I am of political and social issues. I've been thinking, how have I totally missed this? Have I been too busy and too self-absorbed to realize this cancer is such an agressive threat? confused No, I've decided that oral cancer may just be the red-headed orphan of cancers that nobody wants to be associated with (no offense to red-heads: I'm one!) Where are the warnings, the public service announcements, the billboards, the nurse-made bulliten boards in dentists' offices? I guess it takes Oprah to give attention to issues these days. Maybe we should give her a call.

Sorry I'm ranting. It makes me want to start an advertising campaign on my own!

Christine

Wife of Scott: SCC, Stage I retromolar 10/02--33 rad; recurrence 10/03--Docetaxol, 5FU, Cisplatin; 1/04 radical right neck, hard palate, right tonsil; recurrence 2/04--mets to skin and neck; Xeloda and palliative care 3/04-4/04; died 5/01/04.